Lithuania is the highest spender on defence in NATO relative to the size of its economy this year, according to alliance statistics released this week.
NATO estimates Lithuania’s defence spending at 5.33% of gross domestic product, the highest among the alliance’s 32 members.
The Lithuanian government has budgeted about 4.8 billion euros for defence this year, or 5.38% of GDP under its own calculations.
Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Greece rank behind Lithuania in defence spending as a share of GDP, while the NATO average stands at 2.86%, according to the alliance’s data.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has said the level of spending demonstrates Lithuania’s commitment to assuming greater responsibility for NATO’s collective security.
