LONDON (Realist English). On September 22, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced that a new contingent of American troops is heading to the country, ending a period of uncertainty that had lasted since June, when the US withdrew a battalion without providing guarantees regarding its continued presence.
Nausėda’s Statement
“This is excellent news for Lithuania — American troops will continue to remain in our country. We are grateful to President Donald Trump and the US administration for this decision, which is important not only for Lithuania’s security but also for the security of the entire region,” Nausėda said on September 22.
The president emphasized that the American military presence is an “irreplaceable part of deterrence and collective defense” for Lithuania, and that the allies’ determination “to be with us” sends a clear signal that NATO is ready to defend “every centimeter of its territory.”
According to presidential adviser Deividas Matulionis, the rotation is already underway: “It has been confirmed that the rotation is en route, already on trains, and is expected to arrive in Lithuania shortly.”
Numbers and Conditions
The exact number of American service members has not yet been confirmed, but Matulionis assured that it “will not be lower than before.” Lithuania had previously stated its readiness to host up to 1,500 American troops.
The adviser also refuted suggestions that Washington might have imposed conditions on Lithuania related to fertilizer exports from Belarus: “No, definitely not, there were no conditions.”
Timeline of Uncertainty
The waiting period began in June 2026, when the US withdrew an armored battalion of about 1,000 service members from Lithuania without providing clarity regarding the next rotation. This was the first time since 2020 that Lithuania was left without an American armored battalion on its territory.
In June, Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said the future of the US troop presence was “under consideration” in connection with a review of the American military presence in Europe. In August, Lithuania expressed its readiness to host more American troops, emphasizing that it had the necessary infrastructure.
In September, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said he had received assurances that “the period of reducing the number of US troops will not last long,” and that a decision was expected “in the coming days or weeks.”
Review of the US Presence in Europe
The decision on the new rotation was made against the backdrop of Washington’s review of its military presence in Europe. The US is reducing its troop numbers in Germany and Poland amid growing disagreements with European allies over the war with Iran. In August, the US sent European countries a questionnaire demanding that they demonstrate progress in assuming “primary responsibility” for the continent’s defense.
Lithuania, which borders Russia and Belarus, has tripled its defense spending since 2022 and plans to spend 5.4% of GDP on defense this year — one of the highest figures in NATO.
