Lithuania’s PM says his visit to US is being planned, but he cannot go there empty-handed

VILNIUS – Lithuania’s Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius says his visit to Washington is being planned, but it will take some time because he cannot go there empty-handed.

“Work is underway on this issue... You understand perfectly well that the current political leadership of the United States is, so to speak, deal-oriented. Apparently, it’s very difficult to go there and simply have a diplomatic visit without any substance. You have to have something to offer, and you have to have something to ask for,” the prime minister told MPs on Thursday, responding to a question from Conservative MP Zygimantas Pavilionis about why he was not traveling to meet with the US administration.

“We need to work on what we can offer. This, of course, includes military procurements, as well as work on LNG (liquefied natural gas) issues, and other topics, both sensitive and less sensitive. We’re working on that, but as you, with your diplomatic experience, know very well, these things cannot be done overnight or in a week – they take time and effort,” Sinkevicius said.

He reminded that Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys was currently visiting Washington.

“Kestutis Budrys, a member of the Cabinet, has already been sent to the United States; he will be in Washington, at the United Nations, working for the good of the country and, apparently, engaging in some preparatory activities,” the prime minister said.

He also mentioned that he has the ambition to seek the permanent deployment of US troops in Lithuania.

The US is currently reviewing its military presence in Europe. In summer, more than 1,000 American troops completed their rotation in Lithuania, though some remained in the country. However, Lithuania does not yet have a clear answer regarding the arrival of the new rotation.

American forces have regularly deployed battalions to Lithuania since 2019. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Washington changed the status of its forces in Lithuania to a continuous rotational deployment.

These reinforced battalions typically consisted of 1,000 or more soldiers equipped with various combat vehicles. Lithuania has signaled its readiness to host up to 1,500 US troops.