Lithuania seeks clarity on long-term US military presence in Europe

The European commissioner for defence and space, Andrius Kubilius, has called for greater transparency on Washington’s long-term plans for its military presence in Europe, following US threats to withdraw troops from Germany, LRT reports.

Speaking to journalists in Vilnius on Saturday, Kubilius said Lithuania and its allies would prefer US forces to remain in Europe as long as possible, while acknowledging the need to expand Europe’s own defence capabilities.

“The US has made it clear for some time that Europe should take the lead in conventional defence matters,” Kubilius said. “We must understand their rational arguments and develop our own capabilities—figuring out how to replace the strategic enablers and rapid-response forces currently provided by the US.”

His remarks follow the Pentagon’s announcement that it plans to withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany within the next 6–12 months. The decision came after an exchange between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy, during which Merz stated that Iranian negotiators had humiliated Washington. Trump has also threatened troop reductions in Italy and Spain over their refusal to join US military operations, while questioning America’s continued NATO membership.

As of December last year, approximately 68,000 US troops were stationed across Europe.