Военная техника и личный состав армии США прибывают в Литву. Фото: Минобороны Литвы
The US will continue deploying military units in Lithuania on a rotational basis. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that a new contingent is already heading to the country.
“Excellent news for Lithuania — US troops will continue to be stationed in our country. We are grateful to President Donald Trump and the US administration for this decision, which is important not only for Lithuania’s security but also for the security of the entire region. The US military presence in Lithuania is an integral part of our deterrence and collective defence, and the determination of our allies to support us sends a clear signal that NATO is ready to defend every inch of its territory,” the Lithuanian president’s press service said in a statement.
It is not clear when the new contingent will arrive in Lithuania or how large it will be and what equipment it will have. The statement said that the number of US troops would be no lower than previously.
Since 2019, the US has deployed heavy battalions of up to 1,000 troops in Lithuania on a rotational basis. The units were equipped with armoured vehicles, including Abrams tanks. US troops were stationed at a training ground near Pabradė, in the immediate vicinity of the border with Belarus.
This year, the Pentagon announced a review of the US military presence in Europe. The unit stationed in Lithuania began to be withdrawn as part of the rotation, but the deployment of its replacement did not begin. Usually, these processes took place simultaneously.