Lithuania seeks permanent presence of US troops

  • 2017-02-27
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuania seeks the permanent presence of United States troops in its territory, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said during a visit to the US on Friday.

"We have requested stationing of military forces in our country on a more permanent basis – not only rotational but also more permanent," the minister told BNS in the telephone interview from Washington D.C.

Asked whether Lithuania wanted the US troops to be permanently stationed in the country, Linkevicius confirmed: "The permanent presence is important for us, as our own capacities are rather limited."

The minister said he stated his request at a meeting with US Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work and Deputy Secretary of State Tom Shannon.