Lithuania weighs hosting more US troops, minister says

Lithuania is considering the possibility of hosting more US troops, but no decision has been made on their numbers, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said, according to LRT.

“It is currently at the consideration stage. There is a discussion, and we are answering questions. From the questions, we can see that various options are being considered,” Kaunas told LRT radio.

The United States is currently reviewing its military presence in Europe. More than 1,000 American troops ended their rotation in Lithuania this summer, although some remained in the country.

The US has regularly deployed battalions of troops to Lithuania since 2019. After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Washington changed the status of its forces in Lithuania to continuous rotational deployment. These reinforced battalions have usually consisted of 1,000 or more troops and combat equipment.

Lithuania has said it is ready to host up to 1,500 US troops. Kaunas said the country had the infrastructure and capacity to receive more American forces, but final decisions would depend on military plans and NATO leadership.

“We should not become attached to a specific number. The fundamental position is that the United States sees Lithuania as one of its most reliable allies and recognises that Lithuania has done all the necessary work,” Kaunas said.

Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO, Darius Jauniškis, said Washington had sent positive signals about maintaining US troops in the country.

“The Americans are certainly not withdrawing, and I think we can be calm that we will have troops. They see both the possibility and the need to have them in Lithuania. The question is the details and the numbers,” Jauniškis said.

He added that the efforts by Lithuania and other NATO countries to strengthen their defences should not be viewed as competition for US troops.

The comments came after US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby urged NATO allies during a visit to the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels to explain how they would meet Washington’s demands to take greater responsibility for Europe’s defence.

Earlier in August, the United States sent European countries a questionnaire asking them to show how they were progressing towards taking the leading role in defending their continent after an agreement to significantly increase military budgets.

Lithuania has allocated 5.38 percent of its gross domestic product, or about 4.8 billion euros, to defence in this year’s budget. Officials have said the share of GDP allocated to defence next year should also be at least 5 percent.