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🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

Kubilius Says Lithuania's Ruling Social Democrats Still Lack Clear Ideas

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Andrius Kubilius said Lithuania's ruling Social Democrats had not clearly set out their major projects, ideas or priorities.
  • He welcomed plans to spend more than 5% of gross domestic product on defense but said funding alone was insufficient.
  • Kubilius urged Lithuania to invite Ukrainian Drone Army personnel to exercises and test whether its forces could withstand the attacks they conduct.

Former conservative leader Andrius Kubilius says Lithuania's ruling Social Democrats have yet to explain what their government stands for. Speaking to party members at a conservative party congress on Saturday, he said he still did not know which major projects and ideas ranked among the government's priorities.

He also said he knew what Brussels would want during Lithuania's future presidency, but not what Lithuania itself would prioritize. "To be honest, I still do not know what today's Social Democratic government is about, what major works and major ideas are its most important priorities. I do not even know what Lithuania's own priorities are for its upcoming presidency," Kubilius said.

To be honest, I still do not know what today's Social Democratic government is about, what major works and major ideas are its most important priorities. I do not even know what Lithuania's own priorities are for its upcoming presidency.

· Andrius KubiliusHis criticism of the ruling Social Democrats' priorities at a conservative party congress.

Kubilius, the European commissioner responsible for defense and space, described Lithuania's decision to allocate more than 5% of GDP to defense as welcome. But he argued that the figure alone would not guarantee military readiness. He said the question of how Lithuania spent the money had to fit both its own defense plans and NATO's plans.

I know what Brussels' wishes and priorities will be for Lithuania's presidency, but I know almost nothing about Lithuania's own priorities.

· Andrius KubiliusHis criticism of the government's lack of clarity about the country's priorities.

His proposed benchmark was what he called the "Ukraine test." Kubilius urged Lithuania to invite Ukrainian Drone Army personnel to national military exercises and assess whether the country could withstand the attacks they carry out. "If we were unable to pass the Ukraine test, that would mean only one thing: we would also be unable to defend ourselves against Russian drones," he said.

Lithuania's defense funding for 2026 amounts to 4.79 billion euros, or 5.38% of GDP, according to the report.

If we were unable to pass the Ukraine test, that would mean only one thing: we would also be unable to defend ourselves against Russian drones.

· Andrius KubiliusHis argument for testing Lithuania's military readiness against Ukrainian drone attacks.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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