Vilnius: Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene announced her resignation following a conflict with Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene over defense spending and internal communication. The announcement came after Ruginiene expressed a loss of confidence in Sakaliene and proposed her dismissal.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sakaliene confirmed submitting her resignation to President Gitanas Nauseda, expressing her inability to work with the current government. Her resignation followed Ruginiene's statement at the Presidential Palace, where she described the dismissal as a necessary step, emphasizing the importance of resolving misunderstandings in the defense sector.

Sakaliene, addressing the media, highlighted her accomplishments, including increased defense budgets and a rise in volunteer enlistment. She hopes her deputies will stay and the defense industry remains under the ministry's control.

The conflict began after an informal meeting at the Defense Ministry, where social media influencers learned of a reduced defense budget projection for 2026, sparking accusations of government sabotage. Defense blogger Aleksandras Matonis claimed substantial budget cuts in future years, leading Ruginiene to clarify that the defense allocation would be 5.38% of GDP next year.

Despite initial accusations of sabotage, Ruginiene later termed the incident a misunderstanding. After discussions with Armed Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Raimundas Vaiksnoras, she reiterated her diminished confidence in Sakaliene.

President's adviser Deividas Matulionis confirmed the president's awareness of the situation but requested Sakaliene to reconsider her resignation. Sakaliene acknowledged the challenge of continuing without the support of key political figures.