Lithuania to raise defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2018: parliament

Lithuania's newly elected parliament (Seimas) pledged on Tuesday to stick to previous government's target and increase the Baltic country's defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2018.

In the non-binding resolution backed by 119 out of 141 MPs, Seimas said it will continue previous authorities' policies during its term of office as regards raising defence spending, increasing national defence capabilities and fulfilling the country's NATO commitments.

The state will "take the responsibility for the security of Lithuanian citizen and thus will aim to provide the conditions to implement the North Atlantic treaty," members of parliament said in the resolution.

The parliament pledged to increase "not just conventional (military) defence, but also boosting information, cyber, economic, energy and infrastructure related and other security."

Seimas also intends to reinforce Euro-Atlantic cooperation and integration with the EU, the resolution said.

Lithuania is forecast to spend 540 million euros, or 1.45 percent of GDP on defence this year, local website vz.lt said.

In 2017, the country plans to allocate 1.8 percent of the national output for defence funding and achieve the 2 percent target in 2018.

Based on current calculations, 2 percent of GDP will amount to 850-900 million euros in 2018. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollars) Endit