Around 80 American soldiers to come to Lithuania

The division’s command element is responsible for the US land force Operation Atlantic Resolve that also involves deployment of American troops in the Baltic states, Senior Lieutenant Andrius Dilda, spokesman for the Lithuanian Land Force, told BNS. “This element is directly responsible for the command of the rotating divisions.”

On July 1-8, the troops will take part in training at General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre in Nemenčinė, and training will also take place at several other locations in Lithuania. The American and Lithuanian troops will exchange their knowledge, improve interaction and get acquainted with Lithuania’s and regional specifics and geography.

American land force troops are rotated in the Baltic states and Poland since the spring of 2014 in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Since the start of the operation, six US shifts of around 150 troops have already attended joint training in Lithuania with Lithuanian troops and troops from other allied countries, including Germany, Portugal, Denmark and Hungary.

In response to the existing geopolitical situation in the region, NATO has also stepped up the Baltic states’ airspace and sea protection, and US heavy weaponry is set to pre-position in Eastern Europe next year.