Medical and Hospital News
MILPLEX
Lithuania says will spend 5-6% of GDP on defence in 2026-2030
Lithuania says will spend 5-6% of GDP on defence in 2026-2030
by AFP Staff Writers
Vilnius (AFP) Jan 17, 2025

Lithuania plans to spend an annual five to six percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence from 2026 to 2030, the Baltic NATO member's president said Friday.

Russia's war in Ukraine has jolted NATO to strengthen its eastern flank and ramp up spending, and US President-elect Donald Trump has demanded alliance members increase defence expenditure to five percent of GDP.

The transatlantic alliance's current minimum level for defence spending is two percent, but some members already spend more.

Poland, which led the pack on 4.12 percent last year, plans to spend 4.7 percent of its annual economic output on defence in 2025.

Lithuania will spend between three and four percent on defence this year.

"We have agreed to allocate between five and six percent of gross domestic product to defence each year between 2026 and 2030," President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters after a state security council meeting.

The parliament will have to approve the budget each year.

Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said regarding the announcement that "difficult times require bold decisions and leadership".

"We call on our allies to follow this lead. The era of passive 'sit-and-wait' strategies is over," he added on X.

The EU and NATO member state of 2.8 million people is one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters, and fears it could be next in Russia's crosshairs if Moscow were to win its war against Kyiv.

"The likelihood of Russian military aggression remains real, but it is not inevitable. We need to significantly step up our efforts to strengthen our defence and deterrence," Nauseda said.

"Our security is also assured by our membership of the NATO alliance, but it will only be effective if we are prepared to defend ourselves," he added.

Lithuania hopes the defence budget increase will allow it to develop a military division, which requires the country to buy tanks and tracked infantry fighting vehicles.

It has already signed an agreement to buy 44 German Leopard tanks and is in negotiations to procure CV90 machines from Sweden.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILPLEX
Europe to boost joint defence under Trump, German minister says; But Spanish PM says must avoid 'arms race'
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Jan 14, 2025
Europe's largest militaries have decided to increase defence cooperation in light of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office next week, Germany's defence minister said Tuesday on a visit to Kyiv. European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron have been pushing for greater EU defence cooperation since Trump's election win in November, amid questions over the incoming US administration's commitment to transatlantic security. Trump has long been critical of the NATO military alli ... read more

MILPLEX
Humanity has opened 'Pandora's box of ills,' UN chief warns

Insurance access for US homeowners with higher climate risks declines

Survivors count the mental cost of Los Angeles fires

Canadian insurers face record costs from 2024 extreme weather

MILPLEX
SpaceX launches Space Force Rapid Response Trailblazer

GPS alternative for drone navigation leverages celestial data

Deciphering city navigation AI advances GNSS error detection

China advances next-generation BeiDou satellite navigation system

MILPLEX
China says population fell for third year in a row in 2024

Early humans adapted to extreme environments over a million years ago

Three million years ago our ancestors relied on plant-based diets

Human ancestor endured arid extremes longer than once believed

MILPLEX
Kazakhstan encouraged by rare leopard sighting

Why birds make such diverse sounds new global study sheds light

China's viral wild boar hunters attract fame and concern

Tiny plants reveal big potential for boosting crop efficiency

MILPLEX
China marks muted 5th anniversary of first Covid death

China reports 5 cases of new mpox strain

What you need to know about HMPV

China says shared Covid information 'without holding anything back'

MILPLEX
Rubio to say China cheated to power, rejects 'liberal world order'

Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai grilled over US, Taiwan ties

Wuhan keen to shake off pandemic label five years on

China's Xi vows 'all-out battle against corruption'

MILPLEX
Clashes between police, gang leave 11 dead in Brazil

Charred bodies in Ecuador are missing adolescents, say officials

Blast kills two Mexican soldiers, five wounded

Four killed in Colombia airstrike against drug cartel

MILPLEX
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.