Lithuania spurns Russian ‘drill’

WASHINGTON: Lithuania’s defence minister on Wednesday warned that a Russian military exercise later this year may serve as cover for an aggressive troop buildup on Nato’s eastern flank.

Raimundas Karoblis is in Washington to lobby US officials and lawmakers for support as the exposed Baltic states modernize their defenses to deter Kremlin interference.

In an interview with AFP, he said he was grateful for and confident in US support for NATO, despite President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the alliance.

But he made it clear he would like to see a permanent US troop presence on Lithuanian soil as a "multiplying presence for deterrence" alongside European allies.

"Europe needs the presence and leadership of the United States as a defense system, but on the other hand we believe that the United States need allies also," Karoblis said.

Trump alarmed European capitals during his campaign by deriding Nato as obsolete and demanding that US allies take on a greater share of spending on mutual defence.

Since he came to office in January, his senior aides have repeatedly attempted to reassure the allies that Washington will honor its treaty commitments.