Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Monday that relocating some US troops from Germany to countries bordering Russia and Belarus would strengthen NATO’s deterrence posture, following Washington’s announcement that it plans to reduce its military presence in Germany.
The Pentagon plans to withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. US President Donald Trump has also warned that forces could be pulled from Italy and Spain.
Last week, Trump suggested that some of the troops leaving Germany could instead be redeployed to Poland.
“It is important for us that US troops remain deployed in Europe,” Budrys told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
“When it comes to deployment, they should be stationed where their presence creates the greatest added value. Deployment on the frontline would be the most effective for deterrence purposes,” he said.
Budrys said Lithuania is prepared to host additional allied troops and argued that the country offers strong host-nation support and favourable training conditions for NATO forces.
“We are ready,” the minister said. “But we also need to share this common objective – keeping the Americans in Europe.”
More than 1,000 US troops are currently stationed in Lithuania. According to figures from December last year, about 68,000 American troops were deployed across Europe.
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