Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys is urging NATO members to go all in on defense, calling for a sharp increase in military spending. Instead of the current 2% of GDP target, he wants allies to aim for at least 4%—and he’s making his case loud and clear ahead of this summer’s NATO summit.
Speaking at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Budrys didn’t mince words: “For the Hague summit, we need to at least double our baseline defense spending.” He argued that NATO’s current investment levels simply aren’t cutting it, stressing that more funding means stronger security.
Lithuania has been leading by example, ramping up its defense budget tenfold over the past decade. Budrys took pride in the country’s efforts, pointing out that Lithuania plans to push military spending even higher—potentially hitting 5-6% of GDP by 2030. This ambitious goal will be funded through borrowing, new taxes, and economic growth initiatives. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has already confirmed that Lithuania will allocate 5.25% of its GDP to defense next year.
Budrys’ push comes amid ongoing debates over NATO’s financial commitments. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has long criticized European allies for not meeting the 2% benchmark and recently floated the idea that NATO members should match U.S. defense spending—potentially setting a new bar at 5% of GDP.
As pressure mounts, NATO nations may have no choice but to rethink their military budgets—and fast.
