Lithuania plans to raise its defence budget to 5-6% of GDP due to security threats from Russia

Lithuania has declared its intention to raise defence spending to between 5% and 6% of GDP starting in 2026, a move prompted by concerns over potential Russian aggression in the region, as stated by President Gitanas Nausėda on Friday.

The decision, described as “historic,” was made by the State Defence Council and aims to achieve this spending level from 2026 to 2030.

Nausėda emphasized the ongoing risk of Russian military action, noting that while it is not immediate, there is a need for enhanced defence and deterrence efforts. He highlighted the importance of allocating more resources to these initiatives during a press conference in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Currently, Lithuania, a member of both NATO and the EU, allocates just over 3% of its GDP to defence. Achieving the 5% target would position Lithuania as the NATO member with the highest defence spending relative to GDP, surpassing Poland, which currently spends over 4% and is expected to near 5% by year-end.

This announcement follows remarks from US President-elect Donald Trump, who recently urged NATO allies to increase their defence expenditures to 5% of GDP, a target that no member currently meets, up from the existing 2% guideline.