Lithuania and EU push for increased defence spending and unity

European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius has highlighted Lithuania's commitment to maintaining high defence spending, with plans to allocate 5 percent of its gross domestic product to defence in 2027. This follows a year where spending reached 5.38 percent of GDP. The funding supports the Ministry of National Defence and the State Defence Fund, aiding initiatives such as the development of an army division and hosting a German brigade.

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Kubilius also emphasized the European Commission's goal to strengthen continental defence capabilities to support Ukraine. He noted a global shift in security posturing and discussed the potential creation of a European Security Council. This proposed body, advocated by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would include EU member states alongside partners such as the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Norway, and Canada to address security fragmentation across the continent.