3+3 in the Baltic region: joining forces to protect NATO’s eastern flank

Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada have assumed special military responsibility in the Baltic states. Together with their host nations Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, they are coordinating all measures for the protection of NATO’s eastern flank. 

NATO responded quickly and resolutely to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. At that year’s NATO summit in Wales, the Alliance decided, among other things, to establish a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. With this VJTFVery High Readiness Joint Task Force , NATO has created a spearhead force capable of quickly responding to changes in the threat situation in particular in Eastern Europe.

At the 2016 Warsaw summit, NATO’s strategy for Eastern Europe was expanded to include enhanced Baltic Air Policing as well as the land-based enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). In this context, NATO’s heads of state and government agreed to deploy multinational Battlegroups in Poland and the three Baltic states. These Battlegroups were established in 2017. They comprise around 1000 personnel each to reinforce the armed forces of their host nations. Alongside their fellow soldiers, they demonstrate Alliance solidarity and strengthen the deterrence and defence posture on NATO’s eastern flank.

NATO combat forces protect Alliance territory

As a framework nation, Germany has command over the Battlegroup in Lithuania. Canada leads the Battlegroup in Latvia, the United Kingdom the one in Estonia, and the United States the one in Poland. The composition of these multinational combat elements varies and is coordinated with the host nations. In addition to the command of the Battlegroup, Germany, for example, permanently provides at least one combat company. Usually, more than 500 German troops are deployed in Lithuania as part of the eFP at any given time. Most of them are stationed in Rukla, some 100 km northwest of the capital city Vilnius. The Battlegroup is subordinate to Lithuania’s mechanised infantry brigade “Iron Wolf”. 

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the eFP forces were reinforced immediately. As agreed at the NATO summit in Madrid, a forward command post of the Bundeswehr was established in Lithuania, which prepares both exercises and the deployment of a German combat brigade in the Baltic region. This brigade is part of NATO’s reinforcements for Eastern European countries entitled “enhanced Vigilance Activities”. Germany has pledged a future permanent deployment of a Bundeswehr brigade to Lithuania provided certain conditions are met.

All measures in the Baltic region must be taken in concert. In order to improve coordination of exercises, training, logistics and the exchange of information about activities on the eastern flank, the 3+3 format was established on Germany’s initiative. Within this format, the defence ministers of the three Baltic NATO members meet with those of Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom to intensify their cooperation, for example. The first 3+3 meeting was conducted in early 2023. Since then, further talks have followed, including at the level of commanders in the Baltic region. The 3+3 partners have announced their intention to conduct a joint major exercise.