Only NATO’s military power can deter Russia, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said as he met with Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday.
Budrys said at the meeting that NATO leaders must agree at their upcoming summit in The Hague to raise defence spending to between 3 and 3.5 percent of GDP, which “would more adequately reflect the alliance’s needs than the current 2-percent commitment”, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
“Words will not deter Russia, which is driven by imperialist ambitions – only NATO’s military power can,” it quoted Budrys as saying.
“Europe must do its homework. We have to be ambitious in increasing defence spending because that is the only way for us to be secure. It is important that every country in the Alliance takes responsibility and demonstrates a strong commitment to our common security through its actions,” the minister said.
“This is only possible by putting money on the table and making defence a priority,” he added.
Military spending surge
During their first meeting, Budrys and Rutte discussed preparations for the NATO summit in The Hague, ramping up military aid to Ukraine, European security challenges, and the need for NATO allies to boost their defence spending, according to the press release.
Budrys said that NATO allies are bound by a fundamental commitment to collective security, with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty as its cornerstone.
The minister underscored Lithuania’s “serious approach” to national and collective security, pointing to the country’s defence and security decisions as proof.
“We are among NATO’s top spenders on defence, already spending almost 4 percent of GDP. From 2026, we will invest 5-6 percent of GDP in defence, thus increasing not only our security but also that of our allies and the alliance as a whole. NATO’s strength is measured by our defence capabilities and our ability to act together. That is why we must be strong and united,” he said.
Lithuania’s State Defence Council decided in mid-January that the country should allocate 5 to 6 percent of its GDP, or around 12 billion euros, to defence over the next five years.
Lithuania is looking to raise additional funds to establish a national military division and prepare to host a German brigade by 2030. Some of the money is expected to come from economic growth, borrowing, and tax adjustments.
Transatlantic ties
Budrys also said there was a need to maintain strong transatlantic ties, calling them the backbone of NATO’s strength. He said Rutte reassured him that these ties remain solid.
“Rutte assured me that he had received confirmation from the US president that everything is working and that we are planning our further steps ahead, which is very important,” Budrys said in a video comment released by his ministry.
“It is also important not only to maintain political ties between the US and Europe but also to keep military forces in Europe and strengthen forward positions in NATO’s frontline states like Lithuania,” he added.
In early March, NBC News cited current and former senior officials as saying that as the US is reviewing its troop deployment in Europe, President Donald Trump is considering “favoring NATO members that spend a set percentage of their GDP on defence”.
This would mark a major shift in America’s engagement with NATO.
Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO members for failing to meet the 2-percent GDP defence spending target, arguing that it puts an unfair burden on the US. This year, he suggested that European allies should collectively match US military spending. More recently, he said that NATO members should spend 5 percent of their GDP on defence.
According to Budrys, the Kremlin must receive a clear message that NATO has only grown stronger with the change of US leadership.
“All of this must send a strong, deterring message to Russia that after the US election, the alliance has not weakened but has become stronger. That yes, there are many questions about the future in one or another area, but defence is not one of them, and that the transatlantic bond is effective and functioning,” the minister said.
Rutte, a Dutch politician, was appointed NATO secretary general in October 2024, after serving as the prime minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.
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