Russia expects Vietnam to soon join Customs Union

U.S. Senator John McCain on Wednesday said more military exercises were needed in Lithuania, during a U.S. congressional delegation visit to the Baltic country. "We agree we need more military exercises here in this country between yourselves and the United States," McCain told the media after meeting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. "I'm convinced and certain that we will and can have more military cooperation, not obviously permanent bases, but rotation of troops and military exercises," he added. "We believe it's important that as quickly as possible that Lithuania reach 2 percent of GDP to be spent on defense," McCain stated. Lithuania's policymakers reached an agreement on March 29 to increase its defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2020. The U.S. congressional delegation, consisting of four senators, will also meet officials from parliament and the government, and representatives of the Armed Forces in Lithuania, according to ELTA, Lithuania's news agency. The delegation's visit to Lithuania from April 16 to 17 is a part of a larger regional visit which also includes Estonia, Latvia and Moldova