“On May 6, I will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Lithuania and visit units of the German brigade,” he told reporters in the Kaunas district.

The first group of 20 German soldiers arrived in Lithuania on April 8. (Source: DW)

The first troops of a German brigade arrived in Lithuania last week, the first time Germany has deployed troops on a permanent overseas posting since World War II.

Lithuanian leaders appreciated Germany's move and called it a "historic event".

Another 150 troops are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the year. The plan is to have a maximum of 5,000 troops, including 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilians, permanently stationed in Lithuania by 2027.

Lithuania estimates that investing in the military infrastructure and training needed to host German troops could cost the country around 800 million euros.

Talks about the deployment of German troops to Lithuania began after Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine and Berlin announced its commitment last June. The aim is to strengthen the security of Lithuania and the entire eastern flank of NATO.