Key facts
- Lithuania's new coalition government aims to secure a long-term presence of U.S. military units.
- The coalition agreement designates U.S. military presence as a deterrence priority.
- The move comes as the U.S. reviews its troop deployments in Europe.
- Lithuania will be without a U.S. armored battalion this summer for the first time since 2020.
- The government is committed to spending at least 5% of GDP on defense.
Lithuania's incoming coalition government has agreed to seek a long-term and uninterrupted presence of U.S. military units within its borders, viewing it as a critical component of deterrence against Russia and Belarus. The coalition cabinet agreement, signed on Thursday, signals a commitment to strengthening the country's defense posture.
This development occurs amidst a broader review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also threatened to withhold NATO dues from allies not meeting defense spending commitments. Lithuania's defense minister has previously stated that the Baltic nation will be without a U.S. armored battalion of approximately 1,000 troops this summer for the first time since 2020, with the future U.S. troop presence under review by Washington.