Lithuanian president urges EU leaders to show resolve on 5 pct of GDP defense goal by 2030

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday urged European Union leaders to take "very serious steps" over the next five years toward meeting a defense spending target of 5 percent of GDP, following a pledge by NATO member states at this week's summit in The Hague to reach that level by 2035.

"Today, we talked a lot about how the NATO summit provided excellent guidelines, but it doesn't guarantee we'll reach that 5 percent smoothly year after year - especially if political will is lacking," Nauseda said in a video comment from the European Council meeting in Brussels.

The president said that in his speech at the meeting, he pointed out that the defense funding increase could be split into two periods - 2025-2030 and 2030-2035 - and urged Europe to take the lead in the earlier phase.

"It's obvious to everyone that the initial period is critically important. It would be highly counterproductive if we - or some countries, and I don't think Lithuania will be among them - acted during the first period like a student who doesn't study during the semester and starts cramming only during the exam session," the president said in the comment.

"I believe we have to take very serious steps early on to demonstrate the seriousness of the NATO summit's commitment, and this should primarily be done by Europe, by EU member states, before moving into the so-called second period," he added.

Nauseda said Lithuania, along with "a significant number of countries," had supported setting a five-year deadline to reach the 5 percent target.

"Due to opposition from some countries, this could not be achieved, but despite that, we must make an effort to ensure that states take responsibility for Europe's security here and now," he said.