Lithuania is considering the possibility of hosting more US troops, but no decision has been made on how many additional service members could be deployed, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Friday.
“It is currently at the consideration stage; there are discussions, and we are answering questions,” Kaunas told LRT RADIO. “From the questions, we can see that various options are being considered.”
The United States is reviewing its military presence in Europe. More than 1,000 US troops completed a rotation in Lithuania this summer, although some remained in the country.
The United States has regularly deployed battalion-size contingents to Lithuania since 2019. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Washington shifted to a continuous rotational deployment of US forces in Lithuania.
The reinforced battalions have typically included 1,000 or more troops along with various combat vehicles and equipment. Lithuania has said it is prepared to host up to 1,500 US troops.
