“Our estimates, which were at the beginning of the spring, about the average period, which we agreed is seven years and the 2030s, when Russia will be able to implement those plans, we can say if at this rate we see how Russian industry adapts to circumvent the sanctions, as is happening the restoration of forces in Ukraine, that date may be earlier,” the adviser told News Radio on Tuesday.
According to him, for this reason, Lithuania does not have time to think about strengthening its defense capabilities for a long time.
“How many forces in the region would be enough to deter and defend from the first centimeter?” It is known that what is in the region is not enough here, that is why we say that we need permanently deployed units, and that reinforcement will have to come faster than Russia will try to catch us unprepared,” K. Budrys said.
Germany plans to deploy a brigade of soldiers in Lithuania, and Lithuania is preparing the necessary infrastructure of the host country for this.
Commenting on Bloomberg’s report that Russia is increasing its defense spending from almost 4 percent. up to 6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), K. Budrys said that in reality these costs “will be much higher than 6 percent”.
“Certain countries, and Russia for sure, China is following in their footsteps, are hiding defense spending to make it look as low as possible so as not to cause tension,” the adviser said.
Russia plans to increase military spending while continuing a full-scale war in Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022.
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