A German brigade deployed on NATO's eastern flank in Lithuania formally entered service on Tuesday. The 45 Armoured Brigade of the German Army became operational following an activation ceremony in Vilnius.

NATO is clarifying comments that Secretary-General Mark Rutte made when he suggested that four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania had died, even though the U.S. Army said their

Germany has decided to station an armoured brigade in Lithuania, marking the first such move since the Second World War. "We must ensure the protection of our Lithuanian allies," emphasised General Christoph Huber.

The fourth and final missing U.S. soldier whose armored vehicle sank in a swamp in Lithuania last week was found deceased Tuesday, military officials say.

The soldiers had been missing since Tuesday afternoon and were members of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Four members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, disappeared at a training range near the Lithuanian city of Pabradė. NATO initially said they had died.

There will be a formal, dignified departure ceremony for the four Army soldiers on Thursday in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.

After the federal election and the approval of the largest war credits since the Nazis, Germany’s ruling class is systematically pursuing its war offensive. This centres on military expansion to the east and war preparations against the nuclear power Russia.

The M88A2 Hercules was recovered from a swamp during a recovery operation for four US Army soldiers who went missing during a training exercise.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to leave the NATO alliance should member states fail to increase defensive spending. Now, they are.