Kasčiūnas expects US troop decisions in Europe within weeks

Decisions by the United States on the future deployment of its troops in Europe could come within weeks, Lithuanian lawmaker Laurynas Kasčiūnas told reporters on Thursday, according to LRT. Lithuania does not yet have official information about US plans.

Kasčiūnas, deputy chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, said the timeframe was uncertain but that the announcement was likely only weeks away.

He said the United States was completing a review of all its forces in Europe and would announce decisions on troop deployments in individual countries after assessing the overall situation. Kasčiūnas said he had no specific official information about the plans.

The news portal Delfi reported on Wednesday that the United States was expected to brief NATO allies on Thursday about its revised force deployment in Europe. Elbridge Colby, the US deputy secretary of defence for policy, was due to attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

A NATO representative told Delfi that the United States was consulting allies as part of its review. According to Reuters, the allies must submit their responses to a questionnaire on support for US President Donald Trump policy by Friday.

The issue is particularly relevant to Lithuania because more than 1,000 US troops began leaving the country on a rotational basis in June. It remains unclear when new US forces could arrive.