Lithuanian Vice-Minister for National Defence Karolis Aleksa explained, on Wednesday 24 June, that the EU had to strengthen its defence urgently, highlighting incidents that are already occurring on the EU’s eastern border.
“Europe has only one window of opportunity to strengthen its defence and prevent Russia from considering escalation against its Member States. The European Union should be driven by urgency and clear timelines”, the minister stressed during a speech at the European Defence and Security Summit in Brussels.
According to a Lithuanian national threat assessment, in the event of a ceasefire or a frozen conflict in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia would manage to build sufficient capabilities to launch military action against the Baltic States.
“We would like the EU to also send a huge message for future decisions, but also a clear signal to all opponents”, he insisted.
The minister called for burden-sharing. “As it is customary to have burden-sharing rules among Member States in managing migration or border management, investments into border defence - for example, into such capabilities as counter mobility, integrated air and missile defence and anti-drone systems - should be executed at the European Union level and through the European Union financial instruments”, he argued. Flagship projects such as surveillance of the eastern flank and the European drone wall should form part of the European defence projects of common interest (EDPCI).
Karolis Aleksa also pushed for the establishment and testing of a mechanism enabling planning in times of crisis and war, cross-border coordination of resources and the swift deployment of armed forces.
Returning to support for Ukraine, the minister called for work to begin on the next long-term financial plan to meet Ukraine’s needs beyond 2027. “It is crucial to accelerate the modernisation of European and Ukrainian defence capabilities”, he added. The minister also spoke out against European preference: “It would be totally counter-productive to limit Ukraine's access to these vital capabilities” of aviation, defence systems and ammunition “from third countries as long as Europe’s industry is not able to produce them at the required scale”, he warned.
Lithuania is expected to devote 5.38% of its GDP to defence this year – or €4.79 billion, and 7% of its GDP including related costs. The country will also spend nearly €3 billion over 10 years to strengthen its external borders and, beyond that, those of the EU.
The minister announced that defence preparedness, cooperation with Ukraine, strengthening the defence industry within the European Union, military mobility and NATO-EU cooperation will be at the heart of the programme of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin on 1 January 2027. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)