Lithuania offers US support in potential Iran conflict amid troop redeployment talks

The US has taken note of Lithuania’s willingness to assist in a potential conflict with Iran, a senior Lithuanian presidential advisor said Thursday, as Washington considers relocating troops from NATO allies deemed insufficiently supportive to more cooperative states like Lithuania.

Deividas Matulionis, President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief national security advisor, told public broadcaster LRT that Lithuania’s readiness to stand by the US in a crisis sends a critical signal. His remarks follow a Wall Street Journal report that the Trump administration is weighing a plan to withdraw American forces from NATO members in the Middle East perceived as unhelpful and redeploy them to more supportive allies, including Poland, Romania, Greece—and Lithuania.

“When America needs help, and we respond positively—that’s the key message they expect,” Matulionis said. “We can’t say, ‘You station troops here, but when you face a problem, we tell you no.’ This must be a two-way street.”

Lithuanian officials have publicly called the US strike on Iran “understandable” since the conflict began and indicated they would consider requests for assistance. Matulionis confirmed Lithuania has signaled its “solidarity” and readiness to provide support “within our capabilities” if needed, though he noted no formal US request or concrete plans for additional troop deployments in Lithuania have been discussed.

“If the Americans took the initiative to increase their forces here, that would be one of the most significant achievements in recent times,” he added. Over 1,000 US troops are currently rotated through Lithuania.

The Wall Street Journal report, based on unnamed sources, has not been officially commented on by the White House. It emerged as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with former US President Donald Trump in Washington.