Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius welcomes steps taken by the U.S. Government in the implementation of the European Reassurance Initiative and the allocation of some of the funds to strengthen security in Lithuania and other Baltic States.
"This is another important step in helping to ensure Lithuania's national security, step up the strategic partnership between Lithuania and the U.S., and implement the decisions on the measures of collective defence taken at NATO Summit in Wales," said the Minister.
This year about $15 m will be allocated to infrastructure development at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai, training ranges in Rukla and Pabradė, other military infrastructure projects, to mount exercises and create enabling conditions for the deployment of forces.
The U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans for a $1bn European Reassurance Initiative on 3 June 2014 in Warsaw. The programme, which funds additional U.S. military rotations to Europe, has received congressional approval and is now being implemented.
