Germany just did something it hasn’t done since World War II: it permanently stationed a military brigade in another country. Yeah. Big deal.
They dropped around 400 soldiers (soon to be 5,000) into Lithuania, right next door to Russia and its BFF Belarus.
Why? Because Putin’s invasion of Ukraine freaked out the Baltics, and now NATO’s eastern edge is getting very real.
“We’ll defend every inch of NATO,” German chancellor Friedrich Merz said, while helicopters flew over cheering crowds and German tanks rolled through Vilnius like it was Call of Duty: Eastern Front.
The brigade’s full squad won’t be ready until 2027 — yes, four years to send 5,000 troops — but the message is loud: Don’t even think about it, Putin.
Meanwhile, Lithuania’s footing up to €1.7 billion for schools, daycares, and bunkers to keep the German troops comfy.
Hal Turner Snap Analysis
This move is a seismic shift—permanent German boots on the ground signals NATO’s moving from tripwire to full-on deterrence right on Russia’s doorstep.
For Moscow, it’s a provocation, likely triggering military countermeasures in Kaliningrad and Belarus, plus fresh escalation risks.
Both sides are now locked into a hard stance — dialogue shrinks, volatility rises, and all eyes are on how Russia pivots its resources and rhetoric.
