„I received a letter from US President Donald Trump. Since it is addressed to me personally, I cannot disclose its contents in detail, but its tone is very favourable to Lithuania. It primarily discusses Lithuania's status as a strategic partner, its demonstrated strategic partnership with the US across all its activities, and its leadership in implementing the 5% defence spending program. And this sentiment really allows us to form expectations that the US will continue to pay attention to our country,“ Nausėda said on Monday on the LRT television program LRT Forumas.
Two American battalions are currently operating in Lithuania on a rotational basis, conducting joint training exercises with Lithuanian soldiers and allies from other countries.
According to Nausėda, although the details of the deployment of US forces in Europe have not been disclosed, the letter emphasises that Lithuania is seriously implementing the US battalion reception and host nation support program.
„The details of the deployment of US forces in Europe have not been disclosed, but it is said that Lithuania – because that was my appeal to him – is a country that takes the national US battalion reception program and the host nation support program very seriously, and this will not go unnoticed by the US,“ said the country's leader on the LRT television program LRT Forumas.
ELTA recalls that in January, when US leader Donald Trump returned to the White House, discussions began about the possible withdrawal of US troops from Europe.
After returning to the presidency, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Europe should allocate more funds to defence; otherwise, according to Trump, the redeployment of American troops on the old continent will be considered.
However, the US leader has assured that he will honour his commitments to Poland and Lithuania.
In April, US television network NBC reported that the Pentagon was considering withdrawing around 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe. The withdrawal of troops would affect Romania and Poland.
In October, Romania announced US plans to reduce forces on NATO's Eastern flank.
For his part, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he had no official information about Washington's plans to reduce the number of American troops in Lithuania.
There are currently about 70,000 US troops stationed in Europe, with almost half in Germany.