Prime minister expects US troop news from foreign minister

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius expects Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys to return from Washington with positive news about the deployment of US troops in Lithuania, LRT reported.

Budrys is due to visit the United States in September. Sinkevičius said the minister would have a substantial agenda and that he hoped he would bring back “good news.”

“Certain decisions have apparently already been made, but their announcement is on hold until they are coordinated with our partners,” Sinkevičius told Žinių radijas, a radio station, on Wednesday. “It would not be ethical to say something on behalf of our partners, so we are waiting for their responses. I think those responses should be positive.”

The United States is currently reviewing its military presence in Europe, according to BNS. More than 1,000 US troops ended their rotation in Lithuania over the summer, while some remained in the country.

In August, the United States sent European countries a questionnaire asking them to demonstrate progress in taking the leading role in the defence of the continent following an agreement to increase military spending.

Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO, Darius Jauniškis, said last week that Lithuania had received positive signals from Washington about the continued presence of US troops in the country.

US battalions have been regularly deployed in Lithuania since 2019. After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Washington changed the status of its forces in Lithuania to continuous rotational deployment.

Prime minister seeks progress in ties with China

Sinkevičius also said he expected Budrys to make progress in diplomatic relations with China before Lithuania assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“I trust Kęstutis Budrys’s initiative, contacts, tact and diplomatic skills, and I believe he will implement what is included in the government programme,” the prime minister said. “I hope we will see some progress in restoring diplomatic relations before our presidency.”

Lithuania will hold the presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2027, according to BNS.

Asked whether Lithuania would begin its presidency with a new foreign minister, Sinkevičius said that changes were always possible but stressed that he wanted to preserve stability.

“Especially during the presidency, we must maintain our political image and avoid turbulence or changes for the sake of change,” he said, adding that he saw no reason to replace the minister at present.

The governing coalition has recently spoken more actively about normalising relations with China to the level of diplomatic representation maintained by other EU countries, although this has not yet produced practical results.

Lithuania’s relations with China deteriorated in 2021 after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a Taiwanese Representative Office in the country.

Sinkevičius family rules out legal action

Sinkevičius and his wife, Aistė Sinkevičienė, say an LRT investigation contained inaccurate information about her work at Raudondvaris Manor and Kaunas District Municipality. However, the family does not plan to take legal action.