Lithuania seeks security: US troops return, but Washington's stance toward Russia raises doubts

US troops are gradually returning to Lithuania, a NATO frontline state. At the same time, steps by President Donald Trump's administration that critics say strengthen Russia are raising doubts in Vilnius about Washington's reliability. Lithuania, which regards Russia as its greatest adversary, wants a permanent US military presence as a deterrent against Moscow.

Controversial US moves

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York several weeks ago, questioning why Ukraine was attacking Russian oil facilities. Trump then blamed Kyiv for high diesel prices, reached an agreement with Moscow, eased sanctions and bought some Russian diesel. Zelensky has also said the United States temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called the diesel deal "a bad day". Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius also criticised US agreements with Russia, while thanking Washington for resuming the rotation of American troops in Lithuania.

Tomas Janeliūnas, a professor at Vilnius University's Institute of International Relations and Political Science, said Lithuania should keep supporting Ukraine without entering a direct dispute with the Trump administration. Deividas Matulionis, the president's chief national security adviser, said waiting was the best approach for now. Lithuania has already sent Washington a proposal for a permanent presence: it could accommodate 1,500 to 2,000 permanently deployed American troops, and all political parties would back it. Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys rejected the idea that Lithuania's criticism could jeopardise the deployment.

Allied forces as a deterrent

Returning US troops will be housed in newly built barracks at the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training area, where Lithuanian forces and a growing German contingent are already present. Brig. Gen. Nerijus Stankevičius, commander of Lithuania's land forces, said allied presence makes it much harder for a potential aggressor to plan an attack.

Dainius Gaižauskas, a member of parliament's National Security and Defence Committee, urged strengthening internal security services and civil protection, noting that the country lacks air defence systems and its civil warning system is not fully operational.