Gitanas Nausėda said Europe must do everything possible to keep American forces on the continent after the United States announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, adding that Lithuania is prepared to host additional troops.
“First of all, we are interested in ensuring that these troops, who may be withdrawn from Germany, remain in Europe,” Nausėda told reporters.
According to the Lithuanian president, maintaining Washington’s focus on the region is crucial, and NATO allies must ensure the US does not shift its attention away from Europe.
US President Donald Trump warned Saturday that he plans to significantly reduce the American military presence in Germany, in addition to the 5,000-troop reduction already announced by the Pentagon.
Nausėda said Lithuania would be ready to host additional allied forces if troop rotations take place.
“We in Lithuania are ready to host as many allies as we can,” he said.
“We are expecting 5,000 German troops by the end of 2027. We already have more than 1,000 US troops on our territory and would certainly be ready to host even more in the future and fulfil all our infrastructure commitments,” he added.
US troops have rotated through Lithuania intermittently since 2014, while heavy battalions have been deployed in the country since 2019. In 2022, the US battalion stationed in Lithuania was reinforced with an artillery unit.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki voiced a similar position, saying Poland is also prepared to receive additional American troops and stressing the importance of maintaining a US military presence in Europe.
“We must ensure a military presence, whether in Poland or another European country. As president, I must convince the American president to keep those troops in Europe, because our common security and common future depend on it,” Nawrocki said.
“If President Trump reduces the troop contingent in Germany, Poland is ready to host them, as we have the infrastructure,” he added.
About 10,000 US troops are currently stationed in Poland on a rotational basis, one of the largest American deployments in Europe.
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