The Finance Ministry is proposing to allocate an additional 130 million euros this year for the purchase of weapons systems, which would allow some acquisitions to be brought forward.
With these additional funds, defence funding would reach 3.2 percent of GDP this year, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
The draft resolution, signed by Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė, proposes to allocate additional funds to the Ministry of Defence, to be raised by borrowing, in order to accelerate the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-drone systems, armaments, and to upgrade existing mobile air defence systems and acquire new systems.
“This will allow to accelerate the development of the national division and to provide the Lithuanian Armed Forces with the necessary equipment. [...] Part of the funds will also be directed to the acquisition of military equipment produced in Lithuania and needed in Ukraine,” Skaistė is quoted in the statement.
The additional funds were requested by the Ministry of Defence.
If the additional allocation is approved, the Defence Ministry will get a total of 323 million euros in additional funding this year.
This proposal will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting, according to the Finance Ministry.
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