Meeting Merz and talking business
by Alexander Welscher
Estonian Prime Minister Michal has been visiting Germany to discuss European security and economic cooperation with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche. While the meeting with his German counterpart focused on joint efforts to end Russian aggression in Ukraine and strengthening Europe's own defense readiness, the political talks with Reiche were about fostering more business relations between German and Estonian firms. "Germany matters. For our security. For our economies. For Europe", Michal wrote on X ahead of his two-day official visit on 27 and 28 November 2025.
Germany is Estonia's fourth-largest trading partner, and opportunities for expanding cooperation are seen in the fields of digitalization, artificial intelligence, energy, and green technologies. Michal also opened a factory built by the Estonian company Skeleton during his visit (link to other story) and expressed hope for expanding cooperation in the defense and security field, "Estonia's defense industry is our fastest-growing sector - we are learning from Ukraine's experiences and implementing new technologies", he said, highlighting a 100-million-euro defense fund in Estonia for investments in military and dual-use technologies."We encourage German companies to take advantage of the fund's opportunities."
Michal also directly met with German investors interested in working with Estonia at an event at the Estonian embassy in Berlin. “I hope more and more German entrepreneurs will discover Estonia’s tax environment, which is the most efficient in the world, as well as our educated workforce and fully digitised public services,” he said.
Brigade and Bundeswehr in Bavaria
By Alexander Welscher
Lithuanian top officials have been visiting Germany to discuss bilateral cooperation, with a focus on the planned deployment of the German brigade in thier countries and the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank. Stationing a combat-ready unit ot the Bundeswehr to Lithuania marks the start of deeper cooperation, President Gitanas Nausėda said after meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary group in the Bavarian village of Seeon. He noted that the deployment is not merely a defense project, but also represents a unique opportunity to elevate bilateral relations with Germany to an even higher level and to strengthen political, economic, social, and cultural ties.
Nauseda thanked Germany for its long-term commitment to the security of Lithuania and the region. "The inauguration of Germany's 45th Armored Brigade in Vilnius sent a powerful message, which you conveyed during your historic visit to Vilnius last year", Nauseda said to Merz, refering to words spoken by the German Chancellor at the roll call of the unit in May 2025 that now have been also immortalized on commemorative plaque on the wall of the historic city hall in Vilnius. Unveiled on 2 December 2025 the inscriptions bears the quote: "The security of Lithuania is our security. The protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin."
The significance of Germany´s decision to permanently deploy troops was also highlighted by Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys during a visit to Berlin on 19 November 2025 "The German brigade in Lithuania is an important factor in strengthening the defence and security of Lithuania and the region as a whole. This cooperation is not only about deterring Russia. It is about our countries, Lithuania and Germany. Our people-to-people contacts, joint economic projects, closer political cooperation, common values and interests," said Budrys, who two weeks later also visited the Bundeswehr University in Munich.
