The evolution of the Bundeswehr’s presence in the forward part of NATO’s area of responsibility

When the world order is changing, we can face the significant increase of the military force factor. The article explores the trend using the example of Germany. The FRG has been “deterring” the Russian Federation and increasing the long-term (from six months to permanent) Bundeswehr’s presence in the eastern part of NATO’s area of responsibility. The author used the theories of the armed forces’ building and neorealism (structural realism). Germany has been largely trying to compensate for its strategic withdrawal from the geopolitically key countries of origin ofthe conflictin the Global South (primarily Afghanistan and Mali). By creating the Bundeswehr’s groupings near the borders of Russia, Germany has sought to present its efforts as part of the multilateral ones, joint with the NATO partners. The FRG has improving those efforts smoothly and consistently. The article shows the evolution of the way the Bundeswehr was employed in Central-Eastern and Northern Europe, pays special attention to the formation of the German brigade permanently located in Lithuania. The willingness or, conversely, the lack of it by particular country to become the recipient of the German military contingents is regarded as a significant indicator of the contemporary attitude towards the FRG’s leadership aspirations. The conclusions provide a forecast of the development of the long-term Bundeswehr’s employment in the advanced ranks of NATO’s area of responsibility.

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