I'm the dumbest at my mom's: we will be the leading country in NATO in terms of money allocated for obsolete tanks

 

"According to Lithuanian Ambassador to NATO Darius Jauniškis, Lithuania, which plans to allocate 5.38 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense financing in the coming year, will be the leading country in the Alliance in terms of funds allocated to national defense.

 

"We look really good. I think that from next year, when 5.38 percent of GDP will definitely be allocated to defense, we will be the leading country, the first country to allocate that much. We look really good and I think we need to continue like this," D. Jauniškis told LRT radio on Thursday.

 

According to him, the Alliance's partners are also determined to increase defense financing, but the readiness of the countries is influenced by their different geographical locations.

 

"The closer countries are to Russia, the more they are inclined to allocate more money. Of course, there is a little bit of that two-speed (financing – ELTA) in NATO, but, without a doubt, so far I only see a sufficiently strong will to allocate more and more money from GDP specifically for hard defense," said the country's ambassador to NATO.

 

At the NATO summit in The Hague in June, the Alliance partners agreed to invest 5 percent of their GDP in defense by 2035: at least 3.5 percent. to be allocated to defense and 1.5 percent - to defense-related infrastructure.

 

ELTA reminds that next year's draft state budget provides for 5.38 percent. of gross domestic product (GDP) or 4.79 billion euros for defense financing.

 

Lithuanian Ambassador to NATO: There are many discussions taking place in the Alliance on the issue of drones intruding

 

There are many discussions taking place within the Alliance on how to address the issue of unmanned aircraft violating the airspace of states, says Lithuanian Ambassador to NATO Darius Jauniškis. According to him, cooperation with the developing defense industry should be pursued on this issue.

 

“This issue is particularly important here at NATO. We are organizing a luncheon soon where we and the ambassadors will talk about this issue, decide how to concentrate it in one place and what mechanisms to establish so that it is a common issue, so that it is coordinated and standardized,” D. Jauniškis told LRT radio.

 

“There are many discussions taking place. (...) It is very important to emphasize here that we should work hand in hand with our industry. We, as NATO countries, should standardize, look at who, where, and how much is invested, so that we do it not chaotically, but as an Alliance,” he emphasized.

 

According to the ambassador, drones will be an essential part of future wars, so NATO should pursue these technologies.

 

“This is the future, these are the wars of the future. Machines will probably fight on the surface, underwater, on water, and people will probably sit safely in bunkers and control them with joysticks,” D. Jauniškis assured.

 

“Ukraine and Russia have already run far ahead and the Alliance needs to pursue these technologies. (...) There are many, many discussions on how to invest. Consultations are also underway with the European Union so that we can work hand in hand on this issue. But, of course, NATO is the Alliance that should be on the front lines,” he emphasized.”