Lithuania’s national defence budget will slightly exceed 2.5% of the country’s GDP next year, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has said.
“I expect the figure to be higher in monetary terms, but it will probably be slightly higher than 2.5%,” the minister said on September 15.
Anusauskas said he would like the budget to be higher, but it would be sufficient to continue to achieve the set goals, he said. According to him, the defence budget has shrunk to 2.26% of GDP this year instead of the projected 2.5% due to the growing economy.
“If we have 2.5%, that level of funds will allow us to continue to develop those projects, but, of course, if the allocated percentage is higher, there might be possibilities to purchase some weapons,” he added.
It is important to take the country’s energy and social situation into account when discussing the national defence budget, Anusauskas pointed out.
“The internal stability of countries when, for example, there’s an energy crisis and social issues, is as important as military issues, military capability,” he said.
In July, Lithuania’s parliamentary parties signed an agreement and committed to maintaining defence funding at a minimum of 2.5% of GDP. Meanwhile, President Gitanas Nauseda earlier called for 3% of GDP to be allocated to national defence in 2023. (LRT/Business World Magazine)
