Lithuania’s Defense Minister, Dovile Sakaliene, announced plans to raise the country’s military spending to 5.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026. Lithuania might be relatively small but it is no less committed to its readiness and defense. This move follows growing security threats made by neighboring Russia. In a recent interview with Nikkei Asia, Sakaliene pointed towards Germany’s new commitment to deploy forces to Lithuania. She called this action “of enormous importance.”
Currently, Lithuania’s defense budget stands at 4% of GDP, an increase from approximately 2% prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In stark contrast, the government plans to increase its military budget in fiscal year 2024. This increase demonstrates a deep commitment to the nation’s and region’s security. Besides Poland, this move ranks Lithuania as one of the top three countries in military spending as a percentage of GDP within NATO.
Like others interviewed, Sakaliene seemed sure that the United States is correct in pressuring European countries to do more to support European defense efforts. She stressed the need for shared accountability between NATO allies. This call to action has particular urgency amidst rising tensions across Eastern Europe.
Lithuania is preparing to increase its military budget substantially. The conflict has galvanized the country’s efforts to shore up new defense programs to counter advancing threats from Russia. The decision to allocate a larger share of GDP towards military spending underscores Lithuania’s proactive stance in ensuring its sovereignty and security.