Lithuania's new govt program to include 5–6 pct GDP defense spending pledge – MP

VILNIUS – Lithuania's new coalition agreement does not set a target of spending 5–6 percent of GDP on defense in the coming years, but the pledge will be written into the next government program, Remigijus Motuzas, leader of the Social Democrat political group in the parliament, said on Monday.

He said that the new coalition agreement places a strong emphasis on "Lithuania's security."

The deal was signed on Monday by the parliamentary groups of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Nemunas Dawn, and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LFGU) together with the Christian Families Alliance. 

The document commits the coalition to ensuring defense funding "that meets the Lithuanian Armed Forces' military advice requirements, as well as the necessary non-military sector funding to guarantee the country's defense."

However, it does not set a specific funding target.

Motuzas said the concrete commitment to defense spending will be laid out in the government program.

"We are adding a clause to the coalition agreement that the government program's commitments are an inseparable part of the coalition deal, and vice versa," he said.

Lithuania's State Defense Council has decided to aim for an additional 12 billion to 13 billion euros in defense funding by 2030, which would raise defense spending to between 5 and 6 percent of GDP.

A new government program will be drawn up following the signing of the new coalition agreement and the appointment of Social Democrat Inga Ruginiene as prime minister.