“The Secretary praised Lithuania's decision to spend more than 5 percent of GDP on defense in 2026 and thanked Lithuania for providing excellent support as a country hosting rotations of American soldiers,” we read.
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What support does Lithuania provide to American soldiers?
How much percentage of GDP does Lithuania plan to spend on defense in 2026?
How long have American soldiers been stationed in Lithuania?
What topics were discussed in the conversation between Rubio and Budrys?
They discussed the possibilities of increasing bilateral investments and trade, strengthening the industrial base of the defense sector and increasing access to American energy solutions, including liquefied natural gas and small modular reactors.
Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: we are ready to deepen cooperation
Budrys wrote on X that he thanked his American counterpart for the unwavering presence of US forces in Lithuania, which – as he emphasized – is an important element in deterring Russia and a strong symbol of unity.
He assured that Vilnius is ready to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fields of security, energy and economy. “Together we stand firmly by Ukraine,” he added.
There are approximately 1,000 American soldiers stationed in Lithuania, forming two battalions. They have been present since 2019 on a rotation basis, mainly as part of armored brigades. Initially, their presence was planned to last until 2026, but last year's agreement extended the mission indefinitely. 20 percent Lithuanian arms purchases come from the United States.
