In the face of the war in Ukraine, Lithuania will increase funding for defense: it will reach at least 2.5 percent. GDP
On Monday, I. Šimonytė met with the elders of the parliamentary factions in the Seimas to discuss the strengthening of national defense.
One of the issues discussed is defense funding.
It is desired that already this year the funding for national defense will reach and exceed 2.5 percent. from GDP and a little more. In total, it is planned to allocate about 250 mln. euros.
“First of all, I want to rejoice and be proud that there is no other opinion in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania than that the financing of national defense needs to be increased already this year. And there was no debate about the scale. As you know, the government has already made some decisions to allocate 40 million funds to support the host country. The prime minister said at a news conference.
The state budget would additionally include the funds required for long-term purchases of the national defense system.
According to I. Šimonytė, the aim will be for the Seimas to provide for the protection of the national budget by changing the state budget as soon as possible.
It was also agreed to delegate politicians to coordinate the renewal of the national defense agreement.
The latter document, signed by political parties in 2018, predicts that defense funding will reach 2.5 percent by 2030. GDP.
“In summary, I could probably say that the whole bouquet of the Seimas factions, the whole spectrum, takes the strengthening of the country’s security very well and very seriously,” I. Šimonytė said cheerfully.
Who will have the money?
According to the Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas, the total need for financing is about half a billion euros.
However, he mentioned that it is not possible to achieve everything that is desired in one year – production capacity, such as the supply of ammunition, when Europe has reached its peak.
“Many countries are changing their plans, increasing their commitments to defense, and therefore we aim to be the last in the process and to strengthen our defense capabilities,” said A. Anušauskas.
The Minister explained to whom the additional money provided for national defense would be allocated. He mentioned that the idea of a modern soldier is to be implemented in the coming years. Provision of optical sights, thermal imagers, night vision devices.
A Javelin medium-range anti-tank missile launch system, combat drones and ammunition are planned.
“In the event of any military conflict, you see how delivery is stuck, logistics chains are stuck, and each country needs to have what it takes to make the opponent really serious and will resist. And certainly not for a short time, but for as long as it takes. And together with NATO allies. As a result, attention to the purchase of ammunition is also provided here, “he commented.
According to A. Anušauskas, the purchase of additional helicopters will be coordinated with the games.
Additional funding is also provided for cyber security.
Russia intensifies offensive
This year, the financing of the national defense system amounts to just over 1.2 billion. euros.
At the end of February, I. Šimonytė talked about the tension in the region
The Allies are also strengthening the defense capabilities of our region.
The United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who visited Vilnius on Monday, announced that everyone would deploy an additional 400 troops in Lithuania.
Russia is witnessing a war in Russia for the second week in a row.
Moscow is stepping up its offensive, continuing to fire on cities and trying to surround the capital, Kyiv.
The southern port city of Mykolaiv and other cities in the country received artillery shocks on Monday morning.
Ukraine on Monday rejected Moscow’s opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from cloaked cities to Russia or Belarus.