Germany Vows to Defend Baltic Nations From Russian Attack.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised to defend Germany's three Baltic NATO allies in the event of a Russian attack. He also pledged to establish a permanent brigade in Lithuania by the end of 2027. Scholz emphasized the importance of the security of the Baltic nations for Germany's own safety. Germany has already sent a preliminary command of soldiers to Lithuania, with plans to expand the deployment to around 150 personnel by the end of the year. The goal is to have up to 5,000 soldiers permanently stationed in Lithuania. President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania urged Germany to expedite the deployment due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and threats against other former Soviet states. This deployment is part of Scholz's military policy shift, which he announced shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Germany has also increased defense spending to meet NATO's requirement of 2% of economic output. In addition to the brigade in Lithuania, Germany is strengthening NATO's eastern flank with ongoing air policing missions and a German-led Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup. The Baltic nations are aware of Russia's tactics and are committed to countering destabilizing activities together. [Extracted from the article]