Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene mentioned on Wednesday that the big U.S. proportion of Western protection spending is unfair to Washington and that Europe must step up and bolster its protection industries to discourage Russia and China.
“Europe has to tug its weight” on contributions to protection, Sakaliene mentioned in an interview on the Reuters NEXT convention in New York. “It is unfair that contributions of the US are nonetheless so disproportionately massive,” she mentioned.
Her feedback echo remarks from members of the incoming administration of President Donald Trump. She praised the muscular method to coverage of Trump’s nominee for protection secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Sakaliene mentioned that the “indecisiveness, weak spot and compromise of the Western world” led to the purpose the place it has issues procuring a million rounds of munitions for Ukraine.
Hegseth, whose nomination as head of the Pentagon must be authorized by the U.S. Senate, has run into bother attributable to allegations of misconduct in his skilled and private life, together with accusations of sexual assault, which he denies.
Sakaliene mentioned: “I actually like a few of his ideas and concepts, which makes him very robust.”
She pledged to maintain Lithuania’s protection spending at 3.5% of its gross home product subsequent yr, and mentioned it might later go as excessive as 5%.
Modifications to Russia’s economic system point out it has navy ambitions past Ukraine, she mentioned, talking through video hyperlink from Vilnius.
“My solely fear and concern is that if we have now an phantasm that freezing the struggle in Ukraine…it should permit Russians firstly to organize for the third wave of annihilation of Ukraine and, secondly, for his or her subsequent steps of imperial growth,” Sakaliene mentioned when requested about Trump’s guarantees to deliver the struggle in Ukraine to a swift finish.
“As a result of they’ve reworked their economic system from a peacetime economic system to a navy economic system for a motive, and Ukraine will not be motive sufficient for such enormous modifications,” she added.
Lithuania borders each Russia and its ally Belarus, and the incoming minister mentioned she is extra frightened that Russia would possibly invade it than she was a decade in the past.
Sakaliene mentioned the pragmatic argument for the US to remain concerned in Europe is that it wants European assist in its confrontation with China, and if Europe “is damage by Russia,” that may result in dangerous penalties for the US.
“I am very real looking, and I perceive that Europe will not be even within the high three of the priorities of the US. Precedence primary is the US. After which it is Taiwan, after which it is Israel, after which Europe”, she mentioned.
“The struggle in Taiwan is coming, I believe it is clear to all of us,” she added.
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This text was produced by Reuters information company. It has not been edited by International South World.
