NATO Addresses Miscommunication Over Missing U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania

WARSAW, Poland -- NATO has issued a clarification regarding statements made by Secretary-General Mark Rutte concerning the fate of four U.S. soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Earlier comments by Rutte suggested that the soldiers had died, but NATO has since emphasized that their status remains unconfirmed.

In an official statement released on social media platform X, NATO stated, "The search is ongoing. We regret any confusion regarding remarks made by @SecGenNATO today. He was referencing emerging news reports and was not confirming the fate of the missing servicemen."

The U.S. Army has reported that the armored vehicle, identified as a Hercules, which the soldiers were using during their training, has been located submerged in water. Recovery efforts are currently being carried out by both U.S. Army personnel and Lithuanian Armed Forces, alongside civilian agencies.

The soldiers, all part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were involved in tactical training exercises when they went missing. During a press briefing, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that he had not been briefed about the incident.

While in Warsaw, Rutte expressed his condolences, stating that he had received news of the soldiers' deaths while delivering a lecture. He conveyed his thoughts were with the families of the missing soldiers and the American nation.

According to reports from Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, the four soldiers along with their vehicle were reported missing on Tuesday afternoon at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground located in Pabrade, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Belarus border. The Baltic States, which include Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, are NATO members and have maintained strained relations with Russia, an ally of Belarus, particularly since the latter's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russian forces.