VILNIUS - Defense investments by Lithuania and Poland must set an example for allies, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said after a phone conversation with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk on Friday.
"Excellent relations between Lithuania and Poland, our strategic partnership, and shared interests on key issues are vital for building a secure, resilient, and economically dynamic region and Europe," a press release from the government quoted him as saying.
"We share the same view on the importance of supporting Ukraine and investing in our defense, which remains as crucial as ever. I hope we can use this example to encourage our allies for the sake of our common security," Paluckas added.
Poland has budgeted 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for defense in 2025.
In Lithuania, this year's state budget allocates just over 3 percent of GDP for national defense, but the new government's initiative to increase the borrowing limit opens up the path to raise additional funding in the course of 2025 to bring defense funding to 4 percent of GDP.
Meanwhile, NATO has set the defense spending floor at 2 percent of GDP.
Lithuania's State Defense Council (SDC), which includes the country's top political and defense leadership, agreed last week that defense funding should amount to 5 to 6 percent of the country's GDP from next year to 2030 in order to speed up the planned establishment of a division within the army.
The country’s leaders have not yet identified specific sources of funding for such an initiative, but stress that a significant share should come from European funds.
Paluckas and Tusk also discussed support for Ukraine, the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, and joint Lithuanian-Polish energy and infrastructure projects.
According to the Lithuanian prime minister, it is important to utilize all available formats to strengthen regional cooperation and rally support for Ukraine, including the proven Lublin Triangle format.
As highlighted during the prime ministers' conversation, Russia will remain a long-term military threat, as shown by its restoration of capabilities lost in Ukraine, the country's economy being geared towards military needs, and its aggressive hybrid activities.
Given the shared threat, maximum efforts must be made to strengthen defense not only at the regional level but also across the entire EU.
The two prime ministers also noted their mutual interest in the swift and smooth implementation of the Rail Baltica and Harmony Link projects, which are important not only for the economy but also for security.
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