NATO commander visits Lithuania amid reports of possible U.S. weaponry deployment

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Phillip Breedlove visited Lithuania on Tuesday amid reports of the possible deployment of the U.S. heavy weaponry in the Baltic country.

Breedlove met with top Lithuanian National defense officials to discuss regional security.

According to the Lithuanian Defense Ministry, Breedlove's visit intends to practically assess how NATO agreements made in Wales are being practically implemented in the region.

Regarding the possible deployment of the U.S. heavy weaponry in Lithuania, the Baltic country's Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said, "We have prepared, and we continue to prepare the infrastructure for that weaponry to be deployed and we are waiting for the final official decision form the United States," according to national broadcaster LRT.

Breedlove said the deployment of American heavy weaponry is in line with NATO agreements at Wales summit.

"The conclusions and the agreements that were made at Wales made this available to all nations, all of our senior leaders agreed that prepositioning equipment would be a part of our readiness action plan," Breedlove was quoted as saying by BNS news agency.

At the summit in Wales September 2014, NATO allies agreed to strengthen NATO's collective defense, particularly in the Eastern Europe, by enhancing military presence and increasing military exercises there.

Lithuania has strengthened its military trainings jointly with NATO allied forces and hosted increased NATO force presence since conflicts started in Ukraine a year ago. Endit