Latvia and Lithuania ready to host more US troops
Photo: US military (Getty Images)
Latvia and Lithuania are in talks with the United States about hosting additional troops on their territory amid Washington’s decision to withdraw part of its military contingent from Germany, Bloomberg reports.
What Latvia said
"We are having a number of conversations with American allies, and they also say we are a model ally," Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said.
She added that Riga "welcomes that development" very much.
Lithuania’s position
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys also supported the possible redeployment of US forces to the Baltics.
He said that the closer US troops are stationed to the Russian border, the stronger the deterrence factor becomes.
According to the minister, Lithuania already has modern infrastructure for hosting allied forces and can expand it quickly.
The country is currently hosting:
- around 1,000 US troops;
- a German tank brigade;
- up to 5,000 German soldiers are expected to be stationed there by 2027.
Why this happened
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump’s administration announced a reduction of the American military presence in Germany by more than 5,000 troops.
The move raised concerns among NATO allies over a possible split within the alliance.
What the EU says
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the presence of US troops in Europe is important not only for the continent’s security, but also for America’s own strategic interests.
At the same time, Trump suggested last week that some troops could be redeployed to Poland.
Warsaw has already said it is ready to host additional US forces.
US troop reduction in Europe
Earlier, US President Donald Trump sharply criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his comments on the war with Iran, calling him completely ineffective.
Later, the Pentagon announced that it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany and redeploying them to the United States and other overseas locations.
In response, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security.
Trump also told reporters that, besides Germany, he does not rule out withdrawing troops from Italy and Spain as well.
