Lithuania

Capital: Vilnius
Area: 65,300 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Population (July 2011 estimate): 3,535,547
Official language: Lithuanian
State Partner: Pennsylvania
International Organizations and Agreements: NATO, United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe, World Trade Organization, European Union

Since 1992, the United States has committed more than $100 million in Lithuania to economic and political transformation and to humanitarian needs. In 1998, the United States signed a "Charter of Partnership" with Lithuania and the other Baltic countries establishing bilateral working groups focused on improving regional security, defense, and economic issues. Since 2004, the United States deals with Lithuania on regional security and defense matters primarily through NATO fora.

Lithuania fully endorses the concept of collective defense. National policy recognizes the role of NATO as the guarantor of security in Europe. The goal of Lithuania's defense policy is to create a military that can provide for limited Lithuanian national defense and contribute to international missions through NATO, the UN, and other groups, and to continue to integrate Lithuania into Western defense structures.

Lithuania cooperates with Estonia and Latvia in exercise Sabre Strike, a multinational air and land forces training event; the joint naval squadron BALTRON; and the three established a trilateral Baltic infantry battalion for the NATO Response Force in 2010. Lithuania has deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan for combat and training missions. There are Acquisition and Cross-Servicing and Operation Enduring Freedom Lift and Sustain agreements in place with Lithuania.