Gitanas Nausėda is Lithuania’s President, elected in 2019 and re-elected or currently serving in 2026. A former central banker who has steered Lithuania through security ties with NATO, EU integration, and regional diplomacy amid tensions with Russia. Has publicly emphasized hosting US troops and reinforcing Baltic security.
NATO fighter jets have shot down a jet-powered drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and fell near Pratkunai, central Lithuania. Authorities have said the device likely carried explosives; Lithuania has begun analysing the wreckage. Allied officials are saying the incident fits a pattern of cross-border drone activity tied to RussiaUkraine fighting, and diplomatic rebuttals are continuing.
Poland and the United States are moving toward establishing a permanent U.S. military base on Polish soil. Talks focus on location and long-term commitments while Washington weighs a broader European force posture amid a Pentagon review. Polish officials say a decision could come soon, with construction potentially starting before 2029.