“In our perspective, the only effective deterrence against Russia is the persistent U.S. and NATO force presence in the region. We trust the current rotational presence to be maintained. The increase of NATO presence on the eastern flank cannot replace the fundamentally necessary U.S. presence,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas. On June 17 he took part in the Baltic Defence Ministers’ meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ll. Austin in the margins of the NATO Defence Ministerial in Brussels.
The meeting addressed the regional security situation, capability development, and the long-term NATO adaptation. The Baltic Defence Ministers presented a common position concerning the anticipated deliverables of the NATO Summit in Madrid.
“As the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania, I can assure you of Lithuania’s readiness to provide full Host Nation Support to the United States and the resolve to further invest in appropriate conditions for the continued rotational U.S. presence,” said Minister. He also underscored that a swift reinforcement to the region would be impossible without the deployment of the U.S. integrated air and missiles defenses and pre-positioning of U.S. military equipment, ammunition and logistical stocks in the Baltic region. Those are fundamental elements for a reliable rapid reinforcement and sustainment for U.S. troops in case of combat operations in the region.
Minister reiterated all means to advance national security were employed: defence spending stepped up, infrastructure developed, conditions ensured for U.S. forces to maintain combat readiness while in Lithuania and to build their interoperability with other Allied forces.
A. Anušauskas also touched upon delivery of priority armaments, especially air defenses, to Lithuania and the joint Baltic project.
“Together with the Latvian and Estonian Allies we are looking into developing a HIMARS artillery rocket system capability. Lithuania plans signing a corresponding contract before the end of this year,” Minister said.
The United States in a key Ally of Lithuania and one of the central Allies for the security of the Baltic region, Lithuania aims to secure a persistent U.S. force presence in the region in different forms. Currently, the fifth consecutive U.S. heavy battalion with Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles is deployed to Camp Herkus which opened at Pabradė last year and is still further developed. The U.S. forces in Lithuania are implementing a continuous cycle of training thus increase interoperability between allied militaries.
