“We have implemented one of the most essential objectives put forward by the sitting Government: we have a persistent military U.S. presence in Lithuania. The incessant rotational presence of a heavy U.S. battalion in Pabradė, Lithuania, since 2019 will continue until the beginning of 2026 in the least. We have secured a persistent U.S. force presence for a few next years to come leastwise,” Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas says after the meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Brussels earlier today.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underscored to NATO Ministers of Defence at the Bucharest 9 format meeting the importance of rotational presence in the eastern flank Allies. “We will strengthen our capabilities in Europe and keep a ready force for supporting the eastern flank of NATO,” he said. Minister of National Defence A. Anušauskas stressed Lithuania’s commitment to continue rendering Host Nation Support and improving conditions for the presence of the heavy U.S. battalion and attached units deployed in Lithuania.
“The U.S. support to Lithuania’s security and defensibility is critical, therefore our aim has always been to secure a persistent and uninterrupted deployment of U.S. forces. We are grateful to our strategic Ally for the rotation plans for the Baltic states. We invest in the Host Nation Support rendered to the cycling U.S. forces in our country, we are set to ensure all the conditions required for the military presence and readiness of the deployed force,” said A. Anušauskas.
Defence Ministers of the Bucharest Nine agreed that the NATO Summit in Vilnius will be a cornerstone for the implementation of the new NATO Force Model, particularly in the Allies bordering Russia and Belarus. “The decisions taken in Madrid need to be implement to the full,” says Minister of National Defence.
At the meeting, the Ministers also reaffirmed the commitment to continue the armed forces modernization and to step up with the support to Ukraine.
Photo credits: Lithuanian MoD, U.S. Department of Defense
