Lithuania ready to cover cost if US establishes military base
Lithuania has offered to fund a permanent US military base on its soil, while its parliament moves to lift a constitutional ban on hosting nuclear weapons. Russia has condemned these developments as escalations that threaten regional stability.
Why it matters
The potential for permanent US military presence and nuclear capabilities in a Baltic state significantly alters the security architecture of Eastern Europe and heightens tensions with Russia.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius on Tuesday said the country would cover the cost if the US decides to establish a military base."Our partners only need to make the political decision to permanently station troops, and Lithuania is ready to cover the costs involved", Sinkevicius said.The Lithuanian PM had previously invited the Americans to establish a permanent presence in the country. Since 2019, Lithuania has hosted an armoured US battalion of almost 1,000 troops, which are deployed every few months on a rotational basis.On Monday, the US President Donald Trump said he would consider Lithuania's request."They are friends of mine, they are great people, so we will certainly look at it", he said.The PM’s remarks arrive on the day Lithuania's parliament voted, in a first of the two ballots, in favour of removing the constitutional ban on hosting nuclear arms on its territory.If passed by a two-thirds majority, it will…
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