“Currently, the state’s strategic documents do not show a clear state decision on what comes next. However, audits show that in order to maintain the level of security we will create, (…) not to mention further development and modernization, we will definitely need the same level (of funding – BNS) as now, even after 2030,” I. Segalovičienė told Žinių radijas on Friday.
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“That is why we propose very clearly in the National Security Strategy, which is now in the Seimas, will be discussed in the autumn and its adoption will take place, to provide for that funding of more than 5 percent for the national defense system even after 2030, at least until 2035,” she said.
As BNS wrote, developing the national division, acquiring new equipment and preparing for the reception of the German brigade, the State Defense Council, formed last year by the country’s and national defense system’s leadership, decided to allocate 5-6 percent of GDP to defense in 2026-2030.
“If the state has decided to increase its security and truly raise the national defense system from one level to another, then we must have clear strategic patience and ensure that this does not become a matter of very big political debates,” said the State Controller.
She was supported by Deputy Minister of National Defense Karolis Aleksa, who stated that returning to lower defense funding after 2030 would make it difficult to maintain the capabilities currently being developed.
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“To draw a line after 2030 and say it will be 3 percent, well, that would essentially be close to killing what we have created. So we need to understand the consequences of that, and we cannot allow it. This should essentially be a broad political consensus to maintain that in the long term,” said the Deputy Minister.
BNS announced that NATO countries, pressured by America and facing an increased threat from Russia, have committed to increasing national defense budgets to 5 percent of GDP by 2035.
Under this agreement, 3.5 percent of GDP must be used for core defense needs, and another 1.5 percent of GDP for other security-related expenses, such as dual-purpose roads and cyber security.
Lithuania has planned to allocate 5.38 percent of GDP, about 4.8 billion euros, to defense in this year’s budget.
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