Lithuanian abroad Minister Kęstutis Budrys says that he has not seen “no signals” so that the United States plans to retreat itsforces from Europe. "I want to assure you that I did not receive any signal about specified plans during my word of office in this position," said Budrys in an interview given at the NATO abroad Ministers gathering in Brussels.
"There are many considerations that there may be script A, B or C that it can be done 1 way or another. Yes, we all see them, but I have not received any signals that it is in plans to be done," the minister said. His comment emerges from the concerns of allies about the engagement of US president Donald Trump in the safety of Europe.
"The shift of Washington's attention to the Indo-Pacific region and China's increasing influence can lead to a review of the US's presence in Europe," says Budrys, adding that "we should not be idle, but do what we gotta do."
"I see a hazard in Europe erstwhile these 2 debates mix: whether the American presence should be greater or little and what Europe must do. Europe needs to double its [military] spending from about 500 billion to 1 trillion," the head of Lithuanian diplomacy said.
During a visit to the US last week, Budrys informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Lithuania was ready to accept more American soldiers.
Source: LRT.lt
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