Lithuania has "Plan B" for security if US withdraws, says president

Lithuania is prepared with a “Plan B” in case the United States scales back its military presence in Europe, President Gitanas Nausėda revealed in an interview, expressing strong confidence in the country’s deepening defence ties with Germany.

“Lithuania isn’t just thinking about Plan B; it already has it. We place great hope in our excellent cooperation with Germany,” Nausėda said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Lithuanian media.

Germany has pledged to deploy a full brigade to Lithuania by the end of 2027. The commitment, which marks a significant enhancement of NATO’s forward presence on the Alliance's eastern flank, began materializing in April 2024 when the brigade’s initial command element arrived in Vilnius. German troop numbers in Lithuania are expected to reach 500 by the end of this year.

“Their [German] decision to deploy a brigade in Lithuania and their commitment to this goal, despite all the perturbations and initial uncertainty over whether the brigade would be physically deployed, remains firm and is being carried out consistently,” Nausėda said. “Knowing Germany quite well, I can say that the Germans are really serious about this commitment.”

The president emphasized that Lithuania is diligently working to meet its obligations to host the German unit, which he said could unlock broader opportunities beyond the direct military presence.

“If we do our homework and tasks, the German brigade will be deployed in Lithuania, opening up new possibilities for military cooperation,” he stated. “This will significantly expand opportunities for military cooperation in other areas – such as defence industry development and economic ties. This is just as important as the direct military presence.”

Despite this contingency planning, Nausėda reiterated that securing continued US military engagement in Europe remains a top priority.

“We must have a Plan B, and such a plan exists. However, we will continue to strive for the presence of the US here – in Lithuania specifically and in Europe in general,” he said.

His comments follow reports in April by NBC News that the Pentagon was weighing a potential withdrawal of approximately 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland and Romania. At the time, Lithuanian officials, including the foreign and defence ministers, dismissed the speculation, stating that there were no signs of such a move.

Nausėda urged the public not to overreact to media speculation. “Ignore media reports and rely on official information,” he said, reinforcing the message of reassurance already conveyed by his defence and diplomatic leadership.

Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has echoed the president’s position in recent weeks, reiterating that Lithuania remains open and ready to accommodate additional American forces if necessary.

Since 2014, US troops have maintained a rotational presence in Lithuania, with heavier deployments initiated in 2019. Currently, approximately 1,000 American soldiers are stationed in the country, serving as a tangible symbol of US commitment to NATO’s eastern flank.

By Vafa Guliyeva