Kaunas supports proposal to enshrine 5% defence spending post-2030 in National Security Strategy

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has welcomed a proposal by the State Control to enshrine in the National Security Strategy a commitment to allocate more than 5% of GDP to defence beyond 2030, BNS reports.

“The National Security Strategy should be, in my view, the primary document guiding the entire country and state. After 2030, no less than 5% of GDP must be allocated to national security needs, as we will not only continue modernising the Lithuanian army but also maintain the already acquired equipment, the increase in troops, and the newly created infrastructure. This means the burden will not decrease—in some cases, it may even increase,” Kaunas told BNS in Medininkai on Friday.

The current National Security Strategy, adopted in 2021, is updated periodically to reflect geopolitical changes. The sixth updated version, now under consideration in the Seimas, prioritises preparedness for state defence in the event of military aggression. The document states that Lithuania and other regional states face an existential threat, amplified by the likelihood that Russia could be capable of waging a large-scale conventional war against NATO by 2030.

President’s chief economic and social policy advisor Vaidas Augustinavičius has suggested that political parties could agree on defence funding beyond 2030. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, however, noted that any cross-party agreement should account for the parliamentary elections in two years.

Kaunas emphasised that the National Security Strategy itself serves as a consensus document, as it is voted on in the Seimas with support from all parties. “If we see a need for additional agreements, we certainly do not object, but the most important thing is that these agreements do not remain just text on paper—they must translate into real numbers,” the minister said.

Lithuania has committed, alongside other NATO members under US pressure and amid heightened Russian threats, to increase national defence budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035. Of this, 3.5% of GDP is earmarked for core defence needs, with the remaining 1.5% allocated to other security-related expenditures, such as dual-use roads and cybersecurity.

Addressing concerns over Lithuania’s use of only 30% of its defence budget in the first half of the year, Kaunas stated this was normal, as remaining funds are typically spent later in the year. “In 2024 and 2025, even less than 30% of allocations were used by this time, and usually, the remaining money is spent on contracts, advance payments, and other necessities by the end of the year,” he explained.

Kaunas also expressed hope for a larger defence budget next year, though discussions on the exact percentage are ongoing. “The budget will be larger in euros because our economy is growing. Whether it will be 5.38% or slightly more or less is still under discussion. This is a joint decision and effort by the entire government. My interest is to ensure the budget is as optimal as possible, and I would like it to be larger than this year’s,” he said.