Germany to Order Soldiers to Lithuania Brigade

In September 2026, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius moved to order several hundred soldiers to serve in Lithuania, after too few troops volunteered for the Bundeswehr's tank brigade stationed there. Reports say up to 1,000 soldiers could be affected by the deployment orders, which would be the first time such compulsory transfers are used for this mission.

The brigade is part of NATO's presence on its eastern flank. The plan has drawn attention because it relies on ordering soldiers rather than volunteers.