Lithuania wants the United States to permanently station troops on its territory and is prepared to bear the necessary costs. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, as the Baltic country seeks to strengthen its security near Russia and Belarus, reports Reuters.
American President Donald Trump declared on Monday that he will consider Lithuania’s request for the installation of a permanent base: “They are my friends, they are wonderful people, so, certainly, we will analyze it.”
Lithuania, a member of the EU and NATO, borders Russia and Belarus, Moscow’s close ally. Since 2019, the USA has maintained an armored battalion in Lithuania with a force of nearly 1,000 soldiers, on rotation, which means that troops arrive and depart every few months.
Prime Minister Sinkevicius stated that he proposed turning it into a permanent presence at a meeting with Trump’s envoy, John Coale, last month in Vilnius.
“I am glad that this idea is taken seriously… This is an extremely important guarantee of deterrence and security,” Sinkevicius wrote on Facebook. “Our partners only need to make the political decision on the permanent stationing of troops, and Lithuania is ready to cover the related costs,” emphasized the Lithuanian executive head.