Olekas says defence funding should not fall next year

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas says Lithuania’s need for high defence spending remains, and funding should be maintained or increased next year even if some of this year’s allocation is saved, LRT and ELTA report.

Olekas said Lithuania’s defence spending is strengthening its position among allies, including Germany and the United States, which he said recognise the country’s efforts.

He said spending can be delayed by lengthy contracting and supply processes. More funds are usually used in the second half of the year and toward its end, he added.

“If some savings were made, that should not be an obstacle for next year,” Olekas said, adding that the defence system was using its funds efficiently.

He said next year’s defence budget should remain at least at its current level, with contracts already under way allowing funds to be transferred more efficiently, including through advance payments.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said last week that 30% of defence funds had been used during the first half of this year. He said the remaining six months would have to be intensive to ensure that the allocations were used transparently and efficiently.

The Ministry of National Defence said the current level of spending was normal and slightly better than in recent years. It said payments for the largest projects planned for this year would be made in the second half.

Lithuania’s 2026 defence allocation totals 4.79 billion euros, or 5.38% of gross domestic product. The budget includes 1.7 billion euros for weapons and military equipment, about 305 million euros for air defence, about 480 million euros from the State Defence Fund for developing national division capabilities, about 50 million euros for the infrastructure of the German brigade and about 240 million euros for military infrastructure development.