Lithuania ready to host additional US troops, defence minister says

What Kaunas told Whitaker

Kaunas wrote on Facebook that Whitaker noted the military infrastructure established and further developed in Lithuania is exemplary. He said he assured the ambassador that Lithuania is ready to host additional US forces and provide the necessary infrastructure for their deployment. The two met at the Berlin Security Conference, LRT reported.

The Defence Ministry said the talks covered the continuity of the US military presence in Lithuania, strengthening NATO's eastern flank, hybrid threats, intelligence sharing, air defence and support for Ukraine. Kaunas said Lithuania is investing in its own air defence, but NATO forces are also needed. He also said cooperation between the US and Lithuanian armed forces and defence institutions remained close.

Troop levels

Anadolu reported that more than 1,000 US troops completed a rotation in Lithuania this summer, although some remained. LRT reported that just over 100 American troops remained during the US review of its military presence in Europe.

Kaunas said in late September that two US Army battalions were expected by late October, bringing the American presence back to more than 1,000 troops, a level maintained in recent years. He said the deployment was the result of Lithuania's efforts and that European countries must take greater responsibility for their own security. He added that Lithuania must increase investment in national and regional defence.

Anadolu reported that Lithuania has said it is prepared to accommodate as many as 1,500 US service members. Lithuania allocated 5.38% of GDP, about €4.8 billion or $5.6 billion, to defence this year, and officials have said spending should stay at no less than 5% of GDP next year.

Rotations since 2014

US troops have served in Lithuania on nine-month deployments, in varying numbers, since 2014, LRT reported. Washington has regularly sent battalion-sized contingents since 2019, and after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 it moved to a continuous rotational deployment. Those reinforced battalions have generally comprised at least 1,000 troops, with combat vehicles and other equipment, according to Anadolu.

US review and permanent base

POLITICO reported that Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Romania have all expressed interest in hosting more US troops after President Donald Trump announced a withdrawal of more than 5,000 troops from Germany.

In early October, Trump said Washington would consider establishing a permanent US military base in Lithuania. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Lithuania was prepared to cover the costs of a permanent US military presence, LRT reported.

Kaunas said in August that hosting additional US troops was at the consideration stage and that final decisions would depend on military planning and NATO leadership. He said Lithuania should not become attached to a specific number, Anadolu reported.