4 American soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have died, NATO leader says
SUMMARY
On March 26, 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the deaths of four U.S. soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Speaking in Warsaw, Rutte expressed condolences, stating, “This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones,” though he noted that specifics remain unclear as investigations continue. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, described the incident as a training accident but provided no further details. The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs Office in Wiesbaden, Germany, reported that the soldiers, from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were engaged in scheduled tactical training at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, near Lithuania’s border with Belarus, when they disappeared on March 25. Lithuanian broadcaster LRT indicated a vehicle was also missing. Further details are pending official reports.
