The rapid increase in the defense budget of NATO allies and sustained support for Ukraine is a matter of “national security,” the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense emphasized.
Lithuania plans to allocate about 4% of GDP to defense in 2025. This was stated by the Minister of National Defense Dovile Shakalienė, the press service of the ministry of defense reports.
The minister stressed that the rapid increase in the defense budget of NATO allies and the sustained support for Ukraine are matters of “national security.”
“We plan to spend about 4% of GDP on defense this year,” Šakalienė emphasized.
He added that Lithuania is the largest buyer of American weapons among the Baltic countries.
“Our acquisitions from the United States are worth $1.3 billion and account for almost 20% of all our acquisitions,” the minister clarified.
Lithuania is buying from the United States Javelin anti-tank missile systems, JLTV armored all-terrain vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS missile and artillery systems, AMRAAM missiles for the NASAMS medium-range air defense system, and Switchblade drones.
Recall that this year 23 of the 31 NATO countries will spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense.
Source: korrespondent
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