Lithuania's state, army leaders to discuss increasing defense capability, budget

VILNIUS – Lithuania's State Defense Council, chaired by President Gitanas Nauseda for the first time, is gathering on Monday to discuss expanding the capability of the country's national defense system, and also the defense budget.

The state and army leaders will also speak about the army structure, troops and army staff figures and Lithuania's participation in international operations in 2020-2021.

Meetings of the State Defense Council are also attended by the prime minister, speaker of the Seimas, national defense minister and chief of defense.

The presidential press service told BNS Lithuania the meeting would be also attended by Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius and Dainius Gaizauskas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.

Under the Constitution of Lithuania, the State Defense Council considers and coordinates key state defense matters.