New York – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced he had personally urged President Donald Trump to maintain U.S. military presence on NATO’s eastern flank. This plea comes as the U.S. reviews its military footprint in Europe amidst ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.
During a presentation at the Presidential Business Forum on Resilience, Nausėda emphasized Lithuania’s readiness to provide substantial support for American forces in the region. “I personally sent two letters to the president,” he stated, highlighting the importance of American troops’ presence.
The Pentagon has started to scale back forces in Europe, while options under review could remove tens of thousands more troops. This is part of a strategy to shift the defense responsibility onto European allies, with the U.S. playing a more limited role. However, President Trump revealed progress toward establishing a permanent Army base in Poland, a high-spending NATO member. This creates uncertainty for frontline allies trying to align with the new U.S. strategy.
Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine continues to pose a threat, especially as it spills into NATO territory. Lithuania recently encountered this threat when NATO fighters shot down a drone from Belarusian airspace, believed to be Russian with intent to attack Ukraine.
Lithuanian intelligence warns that Russia is rebuilding military capabilities near NATO’s borders, potentially increasing the threat level.
According to Lithuania’s 2026 National Threat Assessment, a ceasefire in Ukraine might enable Russia to bolster its forces near the Baltics, heightening regional risks before NATO can respond effectively.
When asked about NATO’s response readiness, Nausėda cautioned against underestimating Russia, stating the importance of NATO’s deterrent strength to counter Russian moves.
Peace talks seem unlikely for now, as Nausėda indicated Moscow’s plans to use winter as leverage against Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure to pressure concessions.
Nausėda spoke on Lithuania’s efforts to secure energy independence from Russia, signing a recent agreement with U.S. natural gas producer EQT Corp., ensuring 70% of its LNG imports come from the U.S.
Lithuania’s history of energy dependence on Russia has informed its strategy to increase defense spending, totaling 5.4% of GDP, alongside plans to host a German brigade by 2027.
Lithuania remains vigilant, reinforcing security around critical infrastructure due to ongoing risks posed by Russia.
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