Lithuania says new US troops are on their way

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has announced that a new US military contingent is being sent to the country and is already on its way.

The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Lithuanian president shared the information on his official social media account.

Nauseda said he had received official confirmation of the decision from US officials. Thanking Washington, the Lithuanian leader stressed that the move was strategically important not only for his country but also for the security of the entire region.

The president said the US military presence in Lithuania was an integral part of the policy of deterrence and the collective defense system. He added that the solidarity demonstrated by allies sent a strong message that NATO was ready to defend every inch of its territory.

Although the exact number of troops in the new contingent has not yet been disclosed, Nauseda said it would be no smaller than the previous one.

Lithuania is a NATO member and hosts allied forces as part of the alliance’s efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense on its eastern flank. The deployment of allied troops is intended to reinforce the security of member states and demonstrate NATO’s collective-defense commitments.