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| In this Sept. 16, 2015, file photo, Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, prepares to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. |
VILNIUS, Lithuania - US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured the three BALTIC nations on Saturday that they would not be alone in the face of a security trouble from Russia, but he didn't promise a endless deployment of American colors in the former Soviet Union.
Austin's presence in Lithuania as the point of a massive Russian troop buildup and other conduct led Western officers to say Moscow could attack Ukraine at any time, although Russia has denied planning an irruption.
"They're unattached and are now ready to strike,"Austin said Saturday of the readiness of Russian colors to attack Ukraine. Lithuanian officers raised concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged intentions could spread across the region.
“The battle for Ukraine is the battle forEurope.However, he'll go further,"Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said at a common news conference with Austin, If Putin does not stop there.
“They chose a way grounded on strength. We need to shoot a veritably clear and unequivocal communication that it'll be met by a veritably clear and rapid-fire response,” said Landsbergis.
The Baltic countries joined NATO on the same day in March 2004, and the alliance operates under the principle that an attack on one member state is an attack on all of them. Lithuania, a country of2.8 million, borders Russia's supporter Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad protectorate.
“I want everyone in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to know – and I want President Putin and the Kremlin to know – that the United States supports our abettors,” Austin said at a news conference in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.
Austin also met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and the defense ministers of Latvia and Estonia during his two- day visit to Lithuania. Nauseda called on Washington for the endless deployment of rotating hosts in the Baltics, stressing that the situation in Eastern Europe was steadily deteriorating.
“Russia's military upgrade on NATO's eastern border changes the overall security situation. Thus, the decision to strengthen security in the region with fresh colors from the United States and to accelerate collaboration on military accessions is critical,” said Nauseda.
The United States has stationed a regular gyration of battle groups of about 500 colors and armored vehicles since 2019. Austin didn't note on requests to emplace endless military units in Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia.
“I've no adverts to make moment. We'll continue to assess the situation and consult with our abettors and make any necessary adaptations,"Austin said.