The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe paid visit on Thursday in Vilnius ensuring Lithuania will see the US forces here ‘just about all the time’.
Lithuania would like to see deployment of the US troops on its territory rather on permanent, not rotational basis, as is the case now. But General Curtis Scaparroti said there will be ‘forces 365 days a year’.
US maintain a rotating presence in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe since spring 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The present rotation company is comprised of 120 soldiers. A multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battlegroup consisting of roughly 1200 soldiers is also deployed in Lithuania.
Scaparroti met with President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, Minister of Defence Raimundas Karoblis and Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas.
‘I expressed expectation during our meeting that we will see US soldiers during Zapad 2017 exercises taking place in Russia and Belarus, as well as after it’, said Žukas amid Lithuania’s anxiety that massive Russian drills on September near its borders could pose a threat.
‘As always we will watch this exercises and take appropriate steps’, said Scaparroti.
It was the first official visit in Lithuania since Scaparroti assumed NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe duties since last May.
Sound bite (Lithuanian)
JONAS VYTAUTAS ŽUKAS, Chief of Defence of Lithuania:
I therefore expressed expectation during our meeting that we will see US soldiers during Zapad 2017 exercises taking place in Russia and Belarus, as well as after it. I am grateful to general Scaparrotti and all US forces in Europe command for support and attention to Lithuania, its soldiers and for analysing our region’s security challenges.
Sound bite (English)
CURTIS SCAPARROTTI, Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations:
As always we will watch those exercises and take appropriate steps to deter and defend. Our European alliance is the bedrock of our success to deter potential adversary. We stand with Lithuania and support peace in the Baltics.
Sound bite (Lithuanian)
JONAS VYTAUTAS ŽUKAS, Chief of Defence of Lithuania:
I want to say that we do value it very much and are very grateful. Constant presence of the US forces in our region strengthens NATO front presence and undoubtedly contributes to our safety and deterrence of potential aggressors.
Sound bite (English)
CURTIS SCAPARROTTI, Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations:
We are committed to a heel to toe rotational armoured brigade as well as combat aviation brigade in the Baltics. That produces a large force in the region permanently. Beside that in this country we provide special operations forces and others to help with training. So it will be forces 365 days a year. I want some flexibility on that, so it may not be, but it will be nearly that if not that, because of the forces we have present. So we are committed to your defence. We are committed in deterrence alongside your forces and you will see the United States here just about all the time.
