Time when Europe could rely on US military guarantees is over - Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on Monday that the time when Europe could rely solely on the presence of US troops for its security is over, but he stressed that this does not mean the relationship between the US and Europe has started falling apart.

"The period when Europe could rely on America's presence and military guarantees has come to an end," Budrys told the M-1 radio station.

"It's not as if it's just over, and we've set a date and from now on America isn't supporting us. It doesn't work like that. There's certain planning, stages, and how long it will take for us to do what, and how long it will take for the Americans to reorient their forces," he added.

The minister made these remarks after returning from last weekend's Munich Security Conference in Germany.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week warned NATO allies in Europe against assuming that the American troop presence on the continent would "last forever" and urged them to spend more on defense.

Budrys said he does not view Washington's statements as signaling a strategic rift between the US and Europe.

"There are more challenges in the world than just Russia and its aggression. There are challenges from China in the Indian and Pacific regions, Iran's nuclear program, and the complete instability in the Middle East. There are many things that America wants to focus on and it will need support," the minister said.

"The US is saying, 'We want a partner in Europe, and you need to be strong.' I wouldn't see this as a weakening of the transatlantic relationship," he added.

Budrys also warned that Europe's failure to take action to bolster its defense could lead to "various consequences".

"If Europe doesn't stand up and say, 'Yes, we have the capabilities, yes, we can solve this in five years and that in ten', then things will go badly," he said.

Lithuania's top diplomat emphasized that while there is talk about Europe needing the US, Washington also needs support from the continent.

"After World War II, there hasn't been a period when we didn't have common interests and didn't see where they need to be defended," Budrys said.

"The US needs Europe as the world's largest market, (...) the US needs Europe to deal with its biggest challenges, like China, stabilizing the Middle East, tackling international terrorism issues, preventing Russia's expansion in Africa, and ensuring Arctic security. I look at the map and can't imagine a point where the US wouldn't need us," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that it is time to create European armed forces, and that his country's fight against Russia has shown that the foundation for this already exists.

US President Donald Trump has said that NATO member countries should increase their defense spending threshold from the current 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent.

Lithuanian officials have said they expect the NATO summit in The Hague this summer to set the GDP defense funding "floor" at 3 percent of GDP.