"Currently, preparations are underway, logistical decisions are being made, and two battalions will arrive in Lithuania at the end of October," said the minister in a phone call from the U.S. According to Kaunas, the number of troops will remain at the previous level — about one thousand servicemen. "One battalion will be heavy armored, which means the arrival of heavy weaponry, and the other will be an engineering battalion that will assist in the development of our division, border protection, and defense solutions. This is truly a comprehensive and effective solution to ensure the security of our region and state," noted the Minister of Defense. Among the weapons that will be delivered to Lithuania are Abrams tanks. American servicemen will continue to serve in Lithuania for nine months, as before. On Wednesday, during a visit to the Pentagon, Kaunas discussed troop deployment with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner. "I suggested to Deputy Secretary Ratner to consider the possibility of establishing a permanent U.S. military base in Lithuania in the future," said the minister. "At this point, no decisions have been made, but it was emphasized that Lithuania is viewed as a reliable ally, a leader that is taking the initiative in investing in its own security. So this question is currently open, and we will discuss it further." Read more about the troop rotation [here](https://bb.lv/statja/v-mire/2026/09/23/tysiaca-voennosluzashhix-ssa-edet-v-litvu)
