Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized the need for increased defense spending, stating, 'We have to strengthen our defence and we do it nationally, but we need pan-European decisions.' His commitment reflects Lithuania's aim to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP, highlighting national efforts alongside a call for broader European collaboration following rising security concerns due to Russia's actions.
Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas underlined Lithuania's proactive stance by stating, 'We will increase our spending, possibly up to 5% of our GDP in coming years, because we understand that, first of all, we have to help ourselves and then we can count on our partners.' This demonstrates an independent approach to national defense while acknowledging the necessity of international support.
The European Commission's projection that Europe's defense industry requires an additional €500 billion over the next decade to stay competitive underscores the urgency of ramping up military investments. With EU leaders struggling to agree on financing strategies, the collective security of Europe looks increasingly precarious amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
NATO’s potential new spending threshold, being discussed for agreement at an upcoming summit, points toward a significant increase. New Secretary General Mark Rutte noted, 'it would have to be considerably more than 2%' indicating a shift towards a more substantial commitment to defense spending among member nations, aligning with rising global threats.
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