Vilnius: Lithuania's foreign minister on Friday criticized NATO members for failing to significantly increase defense spending, warning that the lack of investment remains a fundamental problem for the alliance. Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys expressed concern that some European allies were offering political declarations instead of making concrete financial commitments.

According to Anadolu Agency, Budrys remarked on the stagnant defense spending in Europe, stating that the situation is being superficially addressed with political rhetoric rather than substantial action. He emphasized the necessity for governments to convert their political commitments into tangible defense funding and industry orders. Budrys highlighted the need for "hard currency" and clear demand signals for the defense sector to expand its production capacity, noting these as significant challenges amid the current geopolitical climate.

The comments arrive at a time when NATO members are engaged in discussions about increasing military budgets in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This event has renewed focus on defense preparedness across Europe. At the previous NATO Summit in The Hague, alliance members pledged to allocate at least 5% of their GDP to military and defense-related spending by 2035. This target includes 3.5% for direct defense spending and 1.5% for related projects like military mobility and infrastructure.

Lithuania, setting a high standard, plans to allocate 5.38% of its GDP to direct defense spending this year, one of the highest levels within the alliance. Despite Lithuania's efforts, several NATO members have been slow to move beyond the alliance's previous benchmark of 2% of GDP.

Budrys shared his frustrations over the reluctance of allies to increase spending, indicating he has exhausted various diplomatic efforts to encourage change. He suggested that "naming and shaming" might be the next step if allies continue to lag behind in fulfilling their financial commitments. Highlighting the critical nature of these commitments, Budrys warned that the alliance's credibility hinges on members honoring their obligations. He underscored the importance of ensuring deterrence by fulfilling promises to strengthen defense capabilities.