The United States will make no surprise moves when deciding on troop deployments in Lithuania, Europe and worldwide, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew G. Whitaker said in Vilnius on Tuesday.
He said that Washington regularly consults with allies when reviewing its military presence.
“We are constantly determining how we are deployed, and most importantly, we are determining what the threats are, both to the United States and to our allies,” Whitaker told a news conference after meeting with Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė.
“We are going to make a decision about the force posture both here in Europe and globally. But I have committed a couple of things, and I know that the administration feels this way. First, there will be no surprises. We will be in full consultation with our allies. And that we will ensure that there are no security gaps, no capability gaps,” he said.
Šakalienė said at the news conference that “the situation in Ukraine is one of the key factors shaping future US force posture in Europe”.
“What the ambassador assured us today is that the United States will not leave security gaps. That understanding clearly shows the commitment,” she added.
On Tuesday, the diplomat is also visiting the Pabradė military training area near Vilnius, where US troops are stationed.
The ambassador is visiting Lithuania as part of a review of US troop deployments in Europe.
Lithuania wants the US to keep the approximately 1,000 troops currently stationed in the country.
No Ukraine security guarantees before peace deal
Washington’s security guarantees for Ukraine are only possible once a peace deal is reached, Whitaker said in Vilnius on Tuesday.
“Obviously, those conversations are going on right now. We need a peace deal first. So let’s not get the cart before the horse,” Whitaker told the news conference.
“We need an end to the fighting. We need peace on the European continent. And then obviously, the security guarantees. Those are conversations happening at the chief of defence level, at the defence ministers level, and certainly inside of NATO,” he added.
US President Donald Trump said after talks with European leaders last week that Europe could provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia, with Washington taking an oversight role.
He later added that security guarantees for Ukraine could involve US air support and European ground forces.
“President Trump has said that we will participate in any security guarantees that are part of that peace deal,” Whitaker said in Vilnius.
“And the United States, obviously, uniquely can bring certain capabilities to the table, and we fully expect that if required, if necessary, that would bring that to the table,” the ambassador said.
“President Trump has made some comments recently, and you know, I’d point you to those as to sort of the US participation, but we’ll be a part of it. He’s been clear about that,” he added.
The US president last Thursday set a two-week time frame for assessing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, adding that “after that, we’ll have to maybe take a different tack”.
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