Korean Media: "Send Troops to Hormuz, Hand Over U.S. Forces in Germany to Us: Lithuania’s Security Strategy Among Small European Nations"

¬ The First NATO Member to Decide on Deployment – Lithuania … Up to 40 Personnel for Mine Clearance Operations, with Plans for Rear Base and Infrastructure Support

It is reported that Lithuania, a small Baltic nation with only 2.8 million people, has decided to send troops to the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member to do so. On the 11th local time, the Lithuanian presidential office stated: "We have decided to dispatch up to 40 military and civilian personnel to carry out the mission of ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and the proposal has been approved." The National Defense Council—comprising the president, who chairs the body, along with the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, the defense minister, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—has endorsed the deployment proposal. Although final confirmation still requires parliamentary voting, given that the ruling party holds a majority in parliament, the proposal is expected to pass smoothly.

Small but Most Committed

Lithuania plans to actively participate in U.S.-led operations such as mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz. Equipped with multiple mine countermeasure vessels to defend against potential Russian naval mine attacks, Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kauša stated: "Lithuania holds an absolute advantage in mine-clearance capabilities," adding, "As a NATO member and a trusted partner, we will contribute to restoring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

Meanwhile, the presidential office also announced: "We are ready to provide logistical support to the United States and allow the use of our military infrastructure." This means Lithuania intends to deploy its own forces into the U.S.-led "Freedom Mission" (Freedom), aimed at escorting commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while actively offering rear-base military facilities and other forms of support. Lithuania’s standing army numbers around 20,000, equipped with over 300 armored vehicles, more than 10 naval vessels, and approximately 10 fighter aircraft—its combat capability is quite limited. Nevertheless, it is willing to risk Iranian retaliation, even under the threat of being targeted by Iran for aiding the U.S., thereby demonstrating the greatest possible goodwill.

The High-Risk Move Amid Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Germany

Some analysts suggest this decision by Lithuania constitutes a high-stakes move amid the dramatic shift in global security following the outbreak of war between Iran and others in February. With Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, former U.S. President Donald Trump called on NATO allies to send troops—but major European nations including France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain all responded: "This isn’t our war," and distanced themselves from the conflict. In response, Trump declared: "I’ll walk away from the paper tiger NATO," and announced plans to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, as well as those based in Italy and Spain.

With Europe’s traditional allies drifting apart from the U.S., Lithuania is seeking closer alignment with America to gain security and economic benefits. Indeed, after Trump signaled his intention to pull U.S. troops out of Germany, Lithuania joined Poland and Latvia in a race to attract American military presence. For years, Lithuania has lived under the constant anxiety caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats of attacking the three Baltic states. Lithuania shares borders with Russia’s exclave Kaliningrad and with Belarus, a Russian ally, with the shortest straight-line distance to Russia measuring just 100 kilometers. It lacks the military strength to resist any Russian offensive.

Recently, after inspecting NATO exercises held near the Polish border, President Gitanas Nausėda said: "We possess all the necessary infrastructure for training and stationing forces, and are fully prepared to welcome more allied troops." Lithuania has formally requested that the U.S. increase its troop presence in Lithuania—from the current 1,000 to 5,000 soldiers—by the end of next year. Analysts suggest that Lithuania ultimately chose to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz as part of its strategy to secure greater U.S. military presence.

Survival Strategy of a Small European Nation

In the 14th to 15th centuries, Lithuania reached its peak as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Subsequently, it endured rule by the Russian Empire and Nazi Germany, and after World War II was incorporated into the Soviet Union. However, Lithuania’s national identity and independence consciousness remain strong. Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1990, Lithuania became the first of the three Baltic states to declare independence. Since then, it has pursued a pro-Western foreign policy, joining both the European Union (EU) and NATO in 2004.

In 2022, after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania actively supported Ukraine. That same year, Lithuania blocked the sole land corridor connecting Russia’s exclave Kaliningrad with mainland Russia, citing violations of EU sanctions—a move strongly opposed by Russia. At the time, the U.S. affirmed: "We will strictly uphold Lithuania under Article 5 of the NATO treaty." In 2021, Lithuania established a representative office for Taiwan in its capital. Some interpretations view this as a small state’s all-in bet—placing itself squarely within a U.S.-centered, pro-Western international order—as a survival strategy aimed at securing national security.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865139128836167/

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