The United States will increase its naval presence in the Baltic Sea, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.
This was confirmed by US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro at a meeting with Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušausauskas.
“We thank the US for its leadership and support in ensuring the security of our region in the air and maritime dimensions. [...] Only a significant US presence in the region will deter Russia from launching another attack,” Anušauskas was quoted as saying in a press release.
He noted that Lithuania is monitoring the Russian fleet’s active presence in the Baltic Sea, so the US naval exercises and the visits of US warships and Marine units are of particular importance to Lithuania.
“We are willing and ready to host more of your capabilities. We are investing rapidly in host nation support and the necessary infrastructure. We aim to provide the best possible conditions for the visiting troops to exercise,” Anušauskas told Del Toro.
In his meeting with the US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, the minister also asked for his personal support in strengthening the air defence of NATO’s eastern flank.
“At the NATO summit in Vilnius, we will pay close attention to the practical strengthening of air defence – we are seeking NATO decisions on the deployment of additional allied air defence capabilities in the region. We ask for your support for these NATO decisions,” Anušauskas said.
According to the minister, the infrastructure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air Base in Šiauliai is being improved to create all the necessary conditions for a greater presence of the US and other allies in Lithuania.
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