Polish President Andrzej Duda will speak for Lithuania, too, when he meets US President Donald Trump, according to the Lithuanian foreign minister.
Duda, who is meeting Trump in Washington on Wednesday, spoke with Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda before his departure to the US and “we were assured that President Duda will represent our interests as well” Minister Linas Linkevičius told reporters on Tuesday.
“We have stressed numerous times that the Baltic states and Poland are one territory, if we speak about the defence logic and NATO defence planning,” Linkevičius said. “Therefore, we find what is happening in Poland of direct importance to us in the national [security] sense.”
“Everything that President Duda will discuss regarding security guarantees and the US effort in the region, especially in Poland, is equally important for us,” he added.
During the meeting in Washington, the Polish and US presidents plan to discuss defence cooperation, among other things.
Poland wants more American troops deployed in the country, but Trump's recent decision to reduce US contingent in Germany has sparked concern in Poland.
“We are definitely not seeking that [deployment of US troops in Poland] at the expense of Germany, we definitely don’t want that. Any withdrawal of US troops from Europe is step we do not welcome, but we have no reason to doubt the United States' involvement in the resolution of security issues in our region,” Linkevičius said on Tuesday.
“Some 500 American troops have recently spent six months training with tanks, armoured vehicles and weaponry here in Lithuania. It happened for the first time in history. And that will definitely not be the last time,” the foreign minister said.
Lithuania's President Nausėda discussed regional security during a phone conversation with President Duda on Monday.
According to Nausėda, the two presidents agreed that during his meeting with Trump Duda will speak on behalf of Lithuania and Poland to express expectations for stronger US military presence in Europe.
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