Lithuanian president, NATO chief discuss Middle East, upcoming summit

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda spoke by phone with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the upcoming summit in Ankara.

According to the President’s Office, Nauseda emphasised the strategic importance of the US to the alliance and transatlantic security.

"Europe will have to adapt to the fact that the US no longer wishes to bear the full burden of our defence. Prevailing attitudes in Washington are clearly shifting, necessitating a European response, including the need to contribute to security in the Middle East," Nauseda said.

The leaders also discussed preparations for the alliance summit in Ankara on July 7–8, which will focus on further NATO adaptation.

Nauseda stated that NATO’s strength lies in its ability to adapt to new circumstances. He added that the alliance’s future depends on transatlantic unity and the implementation of commitments made in The Hague in 2025, including increased burden-sharing by European allies, a minimum 5 percent of GDP for defence spending, strengthening the defence industry, and continued funding for Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the administration of Donald Trump is considering a plan to withdraw American troops from NATO countries that did not assist the US in the Middle East, relocating them to more supportive states. Poland, Romania, Lithuania, and Greece were mentioned as potential destinations.

The US president has labelled NATO a “paper tiger” for refusing to lead efforts to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz and for limiting US access to bases on member territories.

Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief national security aide, previously expressed hope that Washington, when reviewing troop deployments in Europe, noted Lithuania’s readiness to assist the US in the Middle East in the event of an attack on Iran.

More than 1,000 US troops are currently deployed in Lithuania on a rotational basis.