This was a shocking request.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda personally appealed to President Donald Trump to keep American troops stationed in Lithuania as the United States reconsiders its military footprint across Europe.
The request underscores the security concerns facing NATO countries closest to Russia as the war in Ukraine continues and European governments increase their own defense spending.
Nausėda said he sent Trump two personal letters making the case for continued U.S. military involvement in Lithuania.
His message was straightforward: Lithuania wants American forces to stay, and the country is prepared to help cover the costs of hosting them.
The issue gained new significance on September 22, when Nausėda announced that another rotation of U.S. troops was heading to Lithuania. Reuters reported that approximately 1,000 American troops have typically served there as part of a rotational armored battalion since 2019.
Lithuania Makes Its Case to Trump
For Lithuania, the presence of American troops is considered an important part of NATO’s deterrence strategy on its eastern flank.
The Baltic nation borders Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region, placing it close to an area of considerable military activity.
Nausėda has argued that keeping U.S. troops in Lithuania sends a clear message that NATO is prepared to defend its members.
His appeal comes as Washington examines how American forces should be distributed across Europe and how much responsibility European NATO members should assume for their own conventional defense.
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized greater European burden-sharing, adding pressure on NATO governments to increase military investment.
Lithuania has responded by dramatically increasing its own defense budget.
Lithuania Spending More Than 5% of GDP on Defense
Lithuania plans to spend approximately 5.38% of its gross domestic product on defense in 2026, according to NATO.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has pointed to Lithuania’s spending as an example of the substantial increases being made by some European members of the alliance.
That spending level is already above the broader target adopted by NATO members in 2025.
Under that agreement, NATO allies committed to directing 5% of GDP toward defense and related security investments by 2035, including at least 3.5% for core military requirements.
Lithuania is therefore attempting to make the case that it is not simply asking the United States for protection while avoiding its own defense responsibilities.
The country is investing heavily in its military, expanding its forces and hosting additional allied troops.
German Forces Are Also Expanding in Lithuania
American troops are not the only NATO forces strengthening their presence in Lithuania.
Germany has established a permanent armored brigade in the country as part of NATO’s broader effort to reinforce its eastern defenses.
NATO has highlighted Lithuania’s role in hosting allied forces, including NATO Air Policing operations and the German brigade.
The combination of American, German and Lithuanian forces is intended to make a potential military attack on the region considerably more difficult.
That buildup reflects growing concern over Russia’s long-term military capabilities.
Lithuanian Intelligence Warns About Russia
Lithuania’s own intelligence agencies have warned that Russia continues expanding military capabilities near NATO’s eastern borders despite losses suffered during the war in Ukraine.
The country’s 2026 National Threat Assessment says Moscow is continuing military reforms that include expanding existing brigades into divisions and forming new units.
Lithuanian intelligence also warns that reduced Western pressure on Moscow could allow Russia to rebuild its military capabilities more rapidly.
A ceasefire or frozen conflict in Ukraine could potentially free resources currently committed to the war, according to Lithuania’s assessment.
That does not mean an attack on NATO is inevitable.
Rather, Lithuanian officials view Russia’s ability to regenerate military forces as a long-term security concern requiring continued deterrence and investment.
Drone Incidents Add to Baltic Security Concerns
Unmanned aircraft have become another concern for countries along NATO’s eastern border.
Lithuanian intelligence says Russia’s increasing use of drones in Ukraine has contributed to incidents in which unmanned aircraft enter the airspace of Lithuania and other NATO countries.
Some of those incidents may result from technical problems or electronic warfare that causes aircraft to deviate from their intended routes.
Whatever the cause, Lithuania views such incursions as another reason to strengthen air defenses and maintain a credible allied military presence.
What Happens If the Ukraine War Ends?
One of Lithuania’s biggest strategic questions concerns what Russia could do after major fighting in Ukraine eventually slows or ends.
A ceasefire could reduce immediate violence while also allowing Russia to redirect manpower and military equipment elsewhere.
Lithuanian intelligence has warned that lower pressure on Russia could accelerate Moscow’s preparations for a possible future confrontation with NATO.
For that reason, Lithuania’s government has placed increasing emphasis on deterrence rather than assuming that a ceasefire in Ukraine would automatically eliminate security concerns elsewhere in Eastern Europe.
Nausėda has also expressed skepticism about the chances of an immediate negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine.
He has argued that Moscow currently has little incentive to enter meaningful peace negotiations and could instead continue trying to increase military and economic pressure on Kyiv.
Energy Security Is Another Major Issue
Lithuania’s concerns about Russia extend beyond tanks, troops and missiles.
Energy independence has also become an important part of the country’s national security strategy.
For years, many European countries relied heavily on Russian oil and natural gas.
Lithuania moved aggressively to reduce that dependence and has increased its use of liquefied natural gas from alternative suppliers, including the United States.
Lithuanian leaders have argued that reducing dependence on Russian energy makes the country less vulnerable to economic or political pressure from Moscow.
That strategy has become increasingly connected with Lithuania’s broader relationship with Washington.
American energy supplies, American troops and NATO security commitments have all become parts of the country’s effort to strengthen its independence from Russia.
Trump Faces a Broader Decision About America’s Role in Europe
Lithuania’s request comes amid a much larger debate over how the United States should divide military responsibilities with its European allies.
European NATO countries have substantially increased defense investment in recent years, and NATO says European allies and Canada are assuming greater responsibility for collective security.
At the same time, American military power remains an important part of NATO’s deterrence structure, particularly for countries near Russia.
That leaves Washington balancing two objectives: encouraging Europe to carry more of the defense burden while maintaining enough American forces to support NATO’s deterrence strategy.
Lithuania is attempting to show that those goals do not have to conflict.
The country is spending more than 5% of GDP on defense while simultaneously asking Trump to maintain an American troop presence.
Lithuania Gets the Answer It Wanted — For Now
For the immediate future, Lithuania’s request appears to have received a favorable response.
On September 22, Nausėda announced that a fresh rotation of U.S. troops was heading to Lithuania and publicly thanked Trump for maintaining the American military presence.
Reuters reported that Lithuania’s foreign minister said the incoming deployment would again involve significant troop numbers, although an exact figure was not announced.
That gives Lithuania additional reassurance as NATO continues strengthening its eastern defenses.
But the larger debate is far from settled.
Washington continues weighing how much of America’s military presence should remain in Europe, while European countries face growing pressure to invest more heavily in their own defense.
For Lithuania, the strategy is clear: spend substantially more on its own military while making the case that keeping American troops on NATO’s eastern flank remains valuable to both Lithuania and the broader alliance.
