Friedrich Merz visits Lithuania today to mark the official formation of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since the second world war

German chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Lithuania today to mark the official formation of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since the second world war, which is intended to boost Europe’s defences against Russia on the eastern flank of Nato.

The armoured brigade aims to achieve full operational capability with 5,000 personnel by 2027, up from 400 at the moment.