News

Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius welcomes the decision of the United States House of Representatives to authorize $1 billion for the “European Reassurance Initiative”.

“We welcome the commitment of our strategic ally - the United States of America - to further strengthen security in the Baltic States and other eastern European countries. This is one of the most important steps to implement the decisions on the measures of collective defence taken at NATO Summit in Wales this September”, said Minister L.Linkevičius.

On 5 December, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, authorizing funding of the “European Reassurance Initiative” to enhance the U.S. military presence, increase exercises, training, and rotational presence in the Baltic States and eastern European countries, the prepositioning of equipment and improvements to other reception facilities. 

Some of the funds of the “European Reassurance Initiative” will also improve military infrastructure in NATO member countries, e.g., 13 million U.S. dollars will be allocated to infrastructure development at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai next year.

After Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the U.S.A. was the first to take measures to strengthen security in the Baltic States. The U.S.A. has sent troops and fighter planes to enhance NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic States, as well as increased its rotational presence in the Baltic States and Poland.

Minister L.Linkevičius expressed hope that after the vote in the United States House of Representatives, the bill would also be passed by the U.S. Senate.