“I was assured that in the near future we will find out what the arrangement will look like,” Budrys told reporters in parliament on Friday, speaking about the deployment of US troops in Lithuania.
According to Budrys, he discussed the presence of US troops in Lithuania at the NATO summit in Ankara with the supreme allied commander Europe.
“We hope the news will reach us soon and we can make the announcement,” said the minister.
Budrys said he trusted those responsible for the planning of troop rotations and added that the USA is aware of Lithuania’s political, economic, financial and strategic arguments for troop presence.
“I know that planning is ongoing. When they finalise it, the figures will be announced. I am feeling positive about this,” said Budrys.
As reported, when the current rotation of US forces ended in June, around 1,000 American troops with equipment left Lithuania. It is yet unclear who and when will replace them.
Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas earlier said he was too assured about the new US troop deployment.
Both President Gitanas Nausėda and Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras stated that Washington sent very positive signals concerning the presence of US troops in Lithuania.
US heavy battalions have been stationed in Lithuania since 2019.
In June, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new review of American troop deployments in Europe.