What happened
Lithuania is navigating an uneasy alliance with the US, as American troops gradually return to the country. The US President Donald Trump's administration has taken steps that critics say strengthen Russia, raising questions about US policy toward the Kremlin.
Lithuanian leaders have expressed concerns over a reported deal between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over diesel fuel, as well as pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite this, a senior American NATO commander has outlined how the alliance would respond to a possible Russian attack.
Lithuania has presented Washington with a proposal for a permanent US military presence, with the country's president and prime minister criticizing US agreements with Russia. However, they have also emphasized the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine without directly entering a dispute with the Trump administration.
The US troops returning to Lithuania will be housed in newly built barracks and will join Lithuanian forces and an expanding German military presence. The presence of foreign forces is seen as a deterrent, making any potential operation by an adversary more complicated and harder to carry out without detection.
