Vilnius says it is prepared to cover the costs of a permanent US troop presence. President Donald Trump said Washington would “certainly” consider the offer, as NATO allies weigh the future of America’s military commitment in Europe.
Lithuania is willing to pay for the establishment of a permanent US military base on its territory, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said. The political decision to station troops permanently, he said, rests with Washington, while Vilnius is ready to cover the associated costs.
President Donald Trump said the US government would “certainly” consider the proposal. If pursued, the plan would represent a significant expansion of the American presence in a country on NATO’s eastern flank.
From rotational deployments to a permanent presence
The United States has maintained troops in Lithuania on a rotational basis since 2019, including at the Pabradė Training Area near the Belarusian border. According to the US Army, more than 1,000 US personnel were operating and training in the country in 2025.
The prime minister welcomed the arrival of a new temporary rotation and described the US military presence as essential to deterrence and regional security. The offer of a permanent base comes amid concern among European allies over the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce or reshape US forces in Europe.
Could Germany’s brigade provide a model?
Germany announced in February that it planned to permanently station a brigade of about 5,000 military and civilian personnel in Lithuania. The troops are expected to be based primarily around Rūdninkai and Rukla, where accommodation and training facilities are planned.
Lithuanian officials have not said whether the German arrangement could serve as a model for a future permanent US deployment.
Defence ties and US arms purchases
From 20 to 26 September, Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas visited Washington, where he met with executives from Lockheed Martin, Palantir, Northrop Grumman and Mach Industries.
Lithuania says it has purchased nearly €2 billion worth of US military equipment over the past three years, making it the largest US customer in the Baltic region. The offer to fund a permanent base would add another dimension to that partnership, but its implementation would depend on a decision by Washington.
