Speech by Federal Chancellor Merz at the roll call for the Lithuania Brigade in Vilnius on 22 May 2025

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Mr President Nausėda, 
Minister Šakalienė, 
General Vaikšnoras

Mister President, 
Inspector General Breuer 
Esteemed servicemen and women - Liebe Soldatinnen und 
Soldaten, 
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen.

I am glad to be in Vilnius today.

Because it is right here, in Lithuania, where we are taking the defense of NATO’s eastern flank into our own hands.

It is right here where we - Lithuanians and Germans together - show that we are ready to defend Europe’s freedom against any aggressor.

And I could not think of a better place for today’s roll call than Cathedral Square here in the heart of Vilnius.

From here, the Baltic Way set out on its march on August 23 in 1989.

Hand in hand, stretching for more than 650 km from Vilnius via Riga to Tallinn, over two million people stood up for freedom.

From here, citizens of the Baltic states set out to finally regain the independence of their homelands after almost 50 years of Soviet oppression.

Despite all threats and personal risks.

This square reminds us of the courage, efforts and sacrifices made by the Lithuanian people on their path to freedom.

This square tells a story of resistance. And it tells of the confidence that a better life in freedom is possible. 

Today, we have come together in this special place for more than just a military roll call.

This gathering is a sign of our solidarity and our friendship, for which I’m all the more grateful in view of the suffering that National Socialist Germany brought to this country.

***

Ladies and gentlemen,

more than ever before, we depend on solidarity and friendship among liberal democracies.

Peace in Europe has been broken. Each and every day, Russia is violating the order that we collectively adopted as a lesson from the horrors of the Second World War.

With a criminal war of aggression against Ukraine, but also with attacks and murders in numerous European cities, with acts of espionage and sabotage, with cyber-attacks, with systematic disinformation.

We must be able to defend ourselves against such attacks at all times. Freedom is not for free.

The Baltic states understood this long ago, at a time when some in Germany still had illusions about Putin’s regime.

I know that these illusions have caused a lot of irritation in the Baltic countries in the past.

I assure you – that time is over. We are aware of the seriousness of the situation. And we are aware of our own responsibility.

***

Ladies and gentlemen,

just over 70 years ago, on 6 May 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO.

Since then, the solidarity of the North Atlantic Treaty – in particular Article 5 – has been the immovable foundation of our German and our common transatlantic security.

Throughout the years of the Cold War, Germany could rely on our allies standing by our side at any emergency.

Today, we are here the ones who have a duty.

Lithuania has asked for support – and Germany stands ready.

Not just with words, but with servicemen and women, with large-scale equipment, with infrastructure, with reliability in the long term and with a promise:

Anyone who challenges NATO must know that we are prepared. Anyone who threatens any ally must know that the entire Alliance will jointly defend every inch of NATO territory.

We must be ready to do everything to defend ourselves – so that we never have to.

That is the principle that guides our actions.

Credible deterrence. That is what this brigade stands for.

***

Mr President,

You and your government have welcomed our servicemen and women with open arms. You have placed your trust in us, and we will not disappoint you. Thank you for this - also on behalf of the entire Federal Government.

I would also like to thank the Lithuanian citizens who have welcomed our servicemen and women with respect and great hospitality.

Hosting foreign troops on one’s own soil is not something to be taken for granted - especially here in Lithuania.

For us, too, and for the Bundeswehr in particular, today marks a step into a new era. Never before have we permanently stationed a large military unit abroad.

There is still much to be resolved, but I am confident that we will overcome all challenges together. What’s more, I’m certain that we will grow even closer - as friends and as partners.

In this context, I welcome the fact that Lithuania placed an order for 44 Leopard 2 main battle tanks under a Bundeswehr framework contract last year. And that Rheinmetall will build a modern production facility for artillery ammunition in Lithuania.

These projects are models for European armaments cooperation and make a significant contribution to interoperability between our armed forces. In the years ahead, we intend to further expand this cooperation.

***

I will now briefly switch to German to address the servicemen and women directly:

Esteemed servicemen and women, what you do deserves the utmost respect. You are serving our country, as well as the cause of peace, freedom and security throughout Europe. You stand for a Bundeswehr that faces up to the challenges of our time – with professionalism, with courage and with a deep sense of awareness of the responsibility that you bear. Your service is not easy. It means sacrifice, it demands discipline and it entails risks. But it is indispensable. Because without you, without your daily commitment, our Alliance would be nothing but a political idea. You breathe life into it; you make it credible and capable of defending itself.

I would also like to thank your families – your partners, parents and children. You carry a burden that often remains invisible. But that doesn’t make it any less important. You also take responsibility, and I would like to thank you for this.

At the same time, it’s clear that commitment and courage alone are not enough. The servicemen and women of the Bundeswehr need modern equipment that enables them to perform their service successfully and capabilities that are geared towards the capabilities and threats posed by Russia. We have already taken an important decision to make this possible. We have amended our constitution to guarantee sufficient investments in our defence capabilities and ensure that our armed forces are adequately equipped to deal with threats. Our goal is to provide the Bundeswehr with all the financial resources it needs in order to become the strongest conventional army in Europe. This is appropriate for the most populous and economically strongest country in Europe. Our allies not only rightly expect this from us, they all but demand it.

***

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Armoured Brigade “Lithuania” isn’t just a military unit. It sets an example.

For the unity of the Alliance. And for our willingness to actively defend freedom and peace in Europe.

I extend my gratitude to all those who helped implementing this major project so quickly. The main burden of the brigade is borne by the Army. But we can see here today that such a mission can only be accomplished through the cooperation of all forces in our Bundeswehr.

NATO can rely on Germany. We know that security doesn’t begin at our borders. It begins where our allies and partners have to defend it.

That’s why Lithuania’s security is also our security. The protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin. And our common freedom does not end at a geopolitical line – it ends where we stop defending it.

That is why we are here today. That is why we are staying.

Germany stands by its responsibility – in word and deed.

Today. Tomorrow. For as long as it takes.

Thank you very much. And on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany all the best to you and your families. Take care of yourselves and take care of your families.