Relationship dossier
Lithuania
United States
Relationship assessment
Close security partnership reinforced by sustained defense cooperation and U.S. military presence in Lithuania
Lithuania toward United States
+75Lithuania has supported U.S. security objectives through contributions to U.S.-led operations, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and by hosting U.S. forces. It has also pursued close bilateral defense cooperation with the United States.
United States toward Lithuania
+75The United States has maintained a military presence in Lithuania and provided security assistance, supporting Lithuania’s defense and NATO’s eastern flank. The 2017 bilateral defense cooperation agreement established arrangements for U.S. forces’ access and activities in Lithuania.
Overall relationship
+75The relationship is a durable security partnership, reinforced by Lithuania’s NATO membership, Lithuanian contributions to U.S.-led operations, U.S. military presence and assistance, and bilateral defense arrangements. These practical ties support a close and sustained relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Lithuania and the United States maintain a close security partnership grounded in NATO and sustained bilateral defense cooperation. Lithuania has hosted U.S. forces and contributed to U.S.-led operations, while the United States has provided a continuing military presence and security support. The 2017 bilateral defense cooperation agreement reinforced practical cooperation on defense access and activities.
Key developments
Lithuania joined NATO, placing the two countries within the same collective-defense alliance.
The United States and Lithuania signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement covering matters including U.S. forces’ access and activities in Lithuania.
The United States maintained a military presence in Lithuania as part of strengthened NATO deterrence on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Major uncertainties
- The scale and implementation of specific bilateral defense activities vary over time.
- The extent of cooperation outside security and defense is less clear.