First German troops arrive to set up base in Lithuania

GERMAN soldiers arrive in Lithuania yesterday - the first time they have been deployed outside their country long-term since the Second World War.

- Tara Fair

Two dozen troops will lay the groundwork for a further 150 to join them later this year.

The deployment should be up to its full strength of 5,000 by the end of 2027.

Before the flight to Vilnius, Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius called it "an important day for the German army".