Lithuania has spent more than 45% of its defence budget, deputy minister says

Lithuania has used more than 45% of its planned defence funding, faster than at the same point last year, Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa told LRT radio on Wednesday.

On October 14 last year, spending was 3% lower than it is now, Aleksa said. He expects more funds to be used in November, but said the full picture should be assessed at the end of the year.

Aleksa said last year’s unspent 36 million euros from the State Defence Fund had prompted “huge communication pressure”, although most of the overall 3.3 billion euro defence budget had been used.

He said complex joint procurements involving several countries can face delays when participating states change their plans after reassessing their defence needs and perceived threats. Aleksa also described lengthy procedures and negotiations as a systemic problem.

Another challenge is a shortage of procurement staff, he said, adding that the Defence Resources Agency faces the heaviest workload. The ministry is seeking to address the staffing gap, including by raising salaries to attract employees.

Lithuania’s defence system budget for 2026 is 4.8 billion euros, or 5.38% of gross domestic product, according to BNS. Next year’s budget is planned to be 36 million euros higher and equal to 5% of GDP.