The head of Lithuania’s parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee, Giedrimas Jeglinskas, said Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė should not remain in her post in the next cabinet.
“The events of the past few months, or perhaps even longer, have shown that decision-making within the political leadership of the Defence Ministry is, to put it mildly, questionable and sometimes even inadequate,” Jeglinskas told BNS on Saturday. “I would say that Dovilė Šakalienė should not stay on as defence minister. This is not good for Lithuania’s security.”
Jeglinskas, a member of the Democrats “For Lithuania” party, which is part of the governing coalition, said the entire political leadership team at the Defence Ministry should be reviewed.
“I’m not saying that we [Democrats] have an alternative answer, but I do believe that the prime minister and president need to consider what kind of defence minister Lithuania really needs,” he said.
Jeglinskas criticised Šakalienė’s handling of military personnel issues, the dismissal of the military intelligence chief, and her decision to use state resources to fly political analyst Marius Laurinavičius back to Lithuania.
He also said the ministry neglected air defence while focusing on building a national division.
“There are many challenges in the defence system,” he said. “The recent drone incidents clearly showed inadequate decision-making, and perhaps a lack of clear priorities or vision. I think now is the time to reconsider her candidacy.”
When asked whether he would be willing to serve as defence minister himself, Jeglinskas pointed to the party’s pre-election list of potential cabinet members published last September, in which he was listed as a candidate for the defence portfolio.
“We have an entire list of people identified as potential ministers,” he said. “We are the only party with such qualified candidates, and we are ready to serve the country.”
However, he emphasised that the composition of the new government will depend on the Social Democrats, the next prime minister, and an agreement with the president. He added that he is not lobbying for any position himself.
Tensions between Šakalienė and Jeglinskas have been simmering for some time, with Jeglinskas recently questioning her competence to lead the ministry. He claimed she does not understand how the military functions and that confidence in her is declining.
He also criticised her for how institutions responded after a second drone in a month entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
In response, Šakalienė dismissed the criticism with sarcasm, expressing “sympathy” that Jeglinskas had not become defence minister himself.
BNS reported last week that Jeglinskas invested €20,000 in the defence technology company Unmanned Defense Systems (UDS), holding a 0.2% stake. While he has been vocal about the evolving nature of warfare and the importance of integrating drones into the armed forces, Jeglinskas insists he has maintained a clear separation between his public duties and private interests.
He said he has not participated in the company’s operations since joining the Seimas and has never discussed acquisitions involving UDS with defence officials.
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