It appears that because the Poles are getting cold feet, or demanding more for the base, they are talking with Lithuania about locating the missiles there.
This means a number of things:
- The relatively new Polish government is not being as cooperative as they would like.
- That most other nations are not interested (the Lithuanians really hate the Russians)
- That this missile defense installation is directed against the Russians, and not the Iranians.
The last point is simple: If you have a sub optimal location, one that is too far north to protect parts of Turkey, Greece, and Italy, starting negotiations with a country that is further north, and hence less well suited to intercepting Iranian missiles, but just as well suited to intercepting a Russian strike.
What is going on is simple: This is Republicans trying to recreate the cold war, because it benefits them politically.