Speaking from Tallinn, Pevkur explained that he and his counterparts from Latvia and Lithuania stressed the importance of maintaining a robust American military presence in the region. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—all bordering Russia or Russian-aligned territories—have long regarded US forces as essential to deterring hostile action from Moscow. “You need to be where the threat is,” Pevkur said, emphasizing unity within NATO and the importance of keeping the alliance’s “front door closed.”

Currently, about 2,000 US troops are stationed in the Baltics as part of NATO’s broader eastern defense posture, bolstered after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Strategic Review Expected In Fall, No Guarantees Yet

The Biden administration had increased US troop levels in Europe by roughly 20,000 soldiers following the Ukraine invasion. However, European leaders now anticipate a possible pullback as part of a broader strategic reassessment under the Trump administration, which aims to shift focus toward Asia and the Middle East.

During the recent Washington visit, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refrained from offering guarantees but commended the Baltic states for exceeding NATO’s new defense spending benchmark of 5% of GDP. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed that assurances were given against any “rash decisions,” with discussions expected to continue as the Pentagon reviews global force posture later this year.