The inspector general of Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, has called military manoeuvres under way in Lithuania a signal of credible deterrence toward potential threats to the country's NATO allies.
He described the German manoeuvres in Lithuania, dubbed Quadriga 2024, as the largest for the country's military in decades.
"The Baltic region and our commitment in Lithuania is the cornerstone of Germany's contribution to the defence of NATO's eastern flank. Just as the allies stood up for us during the Cold War, we are standing up for the security and freedom of our partners today - on every square centimetre of the alliance's territory," Carsten Breuer, the Bundeswehr's highest-ranking officer, told dpa while visiting Vilnius.
On Wednesday, he plans to observe the final phase of the series of exercises in which German armoured combat troops are training the defence of NATO's eastern flank.
Parts of the 10th Armoured Division are practising combat up to live firing after being deployed by sea, rail transport and in road convoys on Lithuanian military training grounds.
The exercises also involve armoured troops, artillery, engineers and medics working together. The German troops are expected to demonstrate that they are ready and able to defend the alliance.
"The Quadriga exercise sends clear signals: a signal of deterrence to Russia. A signal of reliability to our allies, above all to Lithuania," said Breuer.
"But also a signal to our German society: The Bundeswehr is consistently pursuing the path towards war readiness. We have understood. You can rely on us."
The focus is on two core tasks that the Bundeswehr must master in the defence of the Alliance's territory in Europe.
"Firstly, we are one of the largest troop providers for the eastern flank of NATO, and secondly, Germany is also the logistical hub for allied forces in the defence of Europe," Breuer said. "Both must be practised, all the gears must mesh smoothly: homeland defence, redeployment and the deployment of powerful units. This is how we credibly deter."
Since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany and other NATO allies have been seeking to respond to the renewed threat.
Germany has pledged to permanently station a combat-ready brigade of about 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff in Lithuania by 2027. A preliminary detachment of around 20 soldiers arrived in Lithuania on April 8.
