VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda underlined "the crucial role of US presence in the Baltics as a deterrent against Russian aggression" as he met with Congress Members Donald Bacon and Salud Carbajal in Vilnius on Monday.
Nauseda also emphasized "the importance of close cooperation between the United States and Europe to ensure security and defense across the transatlantic space", the president's
He thanked the US Congress for supporting the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) and noted that Lithuania has boosted its defense funding to 3 percent of GDP this year "with plans for further growth".
"The president stressed that strong and continued Western military support for Ukraine is crucial to ending the war, emphasizing that Ukraine's full integration into NATO and the EU serves as a strong deterrent for ensuring peace in Europe," his office said.
On the occasion of the Day of Coronation of Lithuanian King Mindaugas, Nauseda awarded a state decoration to Bacon, co-chairman of the House Baltic Caucus, for "his significant contribution to Lithuania's efforts to strengthen national and regional security, and for promoting closer ties between the United States of America and the Baltic States".
The 10th rotational unit of American troops, consisting of the US Army's 2-8 Cavalry and 1-82 Field Artillery battalions, has been stationed at the Pabrade training area near Vilnius since late May.
The US troops are deployed with their equipment and weapons, including M109A6 Paladin artillery systems, Abrams tanks, and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
American heavy battalions have been rotating in Lithuania since 2019.
In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Washington last year stepped up its military presence in the Baltic countries and changed the status of American forces in Lithuania to "a persistent rotational presence".
For its part, Lithuania has committed to providing infrastructure for US troops.
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