Delfi Broadcast: NATO 3-0, Pentagon Praises Lithuania and Pressures Europe

Lithuania emerged from a meeting with a senior Pentagon official with what its ambassador described as an entirely positive assessment. At the same time, the United States delivered a tougher message to Europe, criticizing slow defense expansion and urging NATO allies to buy American weapons.

Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO, Darius Jauniškis, said the country received only positive evaluations during last week’s meeting with Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief. Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said Lithuania was considering hosting a larger number of American troops.

The program presents that praise as part of a broader and more demanding message to European allies. Colby’s rhetoric reportedly included criticism of the slow growth of European defense capabilities and pressure to purchase U.S. arms.

The discussion also raises a question about the consistency of recent signals from Washington. The meeting with the deputy Pentagon chief came two days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow. According to some reports, Ratcliffe warned Vladimir Putin that escalation of the conflict with U.S. NATO allies was unacceptable.

Delfi said it would discuss the apparent contrast, and related issues, with Žygimantas Pavilionis, deputy chairman of the Lithuanian parliament’s foreign affairs committee and a former ambassador to the United States.