VILNIUS, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- A logistics hub for the German brigade and NATO allies has opened in Rukla, Lithuania, the Baltic News Service reported on Tuesday.
Christoph Huber, commander of the German brigade in Lithuania, said at the opening ceremony on Monday that the unit is currently focused on its own training, with joint exercises with allies planned for next summer.
"The brigade will launch its Freedom Shield exercise series, to be held twice a year. We are finalizing the details of the first phase, scheduled for early summer 2026," Huber said.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the opening of the Permanent Logistics and Support Area (PLSA) "an important and tangible achievement" that will ensure the sustainability of deterrence efforts.
"By mid-2026, around 2,000 troops will be serving in the brigade in Lithuania. (...) The brigade will gradually reach full operational capability in 2027, when about 4,300 soldiers and 200 civilians will be living and working in Rukla and Rudninkai," he said.
The PLSA, built on the grounds of a former vehicle depot in Rukla, Jonava District, will serve as a hub for maintaining and storing military equipment for both the German brigade and NATO's multinational battlegroup.
Berlin plans to deploy a 4,000-5,000-strong brigade in Lithuania by the end of 2027, with the host country responsible for preparing the necessary infrastructure.
The Lithuanian Defense Ministry estimates that total investment in military and training infrastructure for the brigade could reach 800 million euros (936 million U.S. dollars). ■
