Kubilius says Lithuania will remain among Europe’s defence spending leaders

European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius says Lithuania will remain among Europe’s leaders in defence spending next year, with 5% of gross domestic product planned for the military, LRT reported.

The government approved the draft state budget on Friday, which allocates more than 4.8 billion euros for defence. The funding is included in appropriations for the Ministry of National Defence and the State Defence Fund, which is set to receive more than 896 million euros.

“The defence budget is substantial, and Lithuania remains among the leaders in terms of the percentage allocated to defence,” Kubilius told reporters in Vilnius. He said the threats were significant and investment in defence was necessary for Lithuania and other countries.

Kubilius said Lithuania must decide whether its current efforts are sufficient or whether more is needed. The European Union is trying to support member states through financial assistance and SAFE loans, he said. The bloc is also discussing its budget for the next seven years and developing new projects, including a joint initiative to protect the eastern border.

The defence budget is set to increase by nearly 35 million euros next year. Although the amount allocated in euros was lower this year, defence spending accounted for a larger share of the economy, at 5.38% of GDP.

At the start of last year, the State Defence Council decided that Lithuania would allocate 5% to 6% of GDP to defence from 2026 to 2030. The funding is linked to plans to develop an army division and prepare to host a German brigade in Lithuania.