The White House’s approval of a permanent US military presence in Poland is an encouraging sign for the future of US troop deployments in Lithuania, the country’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Thursday.
“If positive decisions are made in Poland, it is natural to conclude that positive decisions will also be made in Lithuania,” Kaunas told LRT RADIO.
Last week, Marcin Przydacz, foreign policy adviser to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, said Washington had approved a permanent US troop presence in Poland.
According to Kaunas, the United States is nearing the end of its review of military deployments across Europe, with decisions on future force posture expected soon.
The minister said he had received positive signals from Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and other US officials regarding the continued American military presence in the region.
More than 1,000 US troops completed their rotation in Lithuania this summer and departed as Washington reviews its force deployments in Europe.
The United States has deployed battalion-sized units to Lithuania on a rotational basis since 2019. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Washington shifted to a continuous rotational presence, with reinforced battalions typically comprising more than 1,000 troops and a range of combat vehicles.
Lithuania has said it is prepared to host up to 1,500 US troops.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
