U.S. rotational forces are expected to be fully deployed in Lithuania by mid-November, according to broadcaster LRT.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said the rotation had already begun, with the first 100 U.S. troops arriving in the country. Another 10 to 12 groups are expected to follow, and both battalions are scheduled to be fully deployed by the middle of November.
The American units will be stationed at the military base in Pabrade, where the first troops have already arrived. According to LRT, the deployment will include two battalions — a heavy armored unit and an engineering battalion — with a combined strength of around 1,000 personnel.
U.S. military equipment is being moved into Lithuania through seaports and by rail. Kaunas said the transfer is already in full swing, with railway routes, port capacity and loading facilities reserved for the allied forces.
A U.S. heavy battalion of around 1,000 troops had been stationed in Lithuania on a rotational basis since 2019. Its equipment included Abrams tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Paladin artillery systems.
In November 2024, the command decided to make the U.S. presence continuous, eliminating gaps between nine-month rotations. However, the United States withdrew the battalion from Lithuania in June 2026 without outlining its plans for a future military presence in the country.