The deployment of U.S. forces in Lithuania will have a change of status from so-called “episodic deployments” to a “persistent rotational presence”.
The US battalion has been deployed at the Pabradė training area close to Vilnius since 2019, with longer or shorter breaks between rotations.
“As President Biden has said, we are committed to defending every inch of NATO territory. These US deployments demonstrate this commitment, and while we continue to adapt our force posture in the region, we are committed to maintaining a persistent, heel-to-toe presence in the region and intensifying training with our Baltic Allies to maintain combat credible capabilities and to enhance our defence and deterrence posture,” said U.S. Embassy Robert Gilchrist.
Moreover, Lithuania is set to buy eight HIMARS rocket systems from the United States for 495 million dollars.
A similar announcement was made concerning the U.S. presence in Latvia, according to the Latvian Ministry of Defence.
Meanwhile in Estonia on December 8 it was confirmed that the U.S. will deploy an additional infantry company and a HIMARS platoon, as well as associated command and control equipment and systems.
These US deployments demonstrate readiness to enhance American presence in the Baltic region, but then again it makes Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia intensify efforts to ensure the deployment of military forces on its territory increase defenсe spending.
