The Lithuanian authorities intend to ask the U.S. administration to station its soldiers in the country on a permanent basis amid the escalating conflict over Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reported.

"Of course, we will talk to the U.S. about it to make sure that soldiers who are stationed on a rotational basis stay in Lithuania permanently," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausseda said at a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 9.

He said this would be the best security and deterrence measure NATO could take, not just for Lithuania, but for the entire region.

Since 2019, the U.S. has been stationing about 500 soldiers, including equipment, in Lithuania. Combat teams rotate in and out.