US troop rotation arrives in Lithuania as Pentagon reviews Europe posture

U.S. soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division arrive in Lithuania, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank as allies seek a stronger American presence. U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, load ammunition into a Stryker during a live-fire counter-drone exercise at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, May 14, 2026. A new rotation of 1st Infantry Division soldiers is now arriving in the country. (Nicodemus Taylor/U.S. Army ) A new contingent of U.S. soldiers hit the ground this week in Lithuania, with more expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Up to 100 U.S. personnel are now positioned in Pabrade, a training area frequently used by American units rotating in and out of the country, Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Lithuanian radio Wednesday.

Kaunas welcomed their arrival, adding that troops will arrive in batches with two battalions set to be in place by mid-November. The soldiers are from the 1st Infantry Division. The Pentagon announced the deployment in August. The forces are part of a long-standing mission aimed at reassuring allies and deterring potential Russian aggression on NATO’s eastern flank. Lithuanian officials have highlighted the latest rotation in recent weeks, amid questions about the future U.S. military presence in the country. A previous U.S. rotation left Lithuania in June, resulting in a brief period without a sizable