57 percent Lithuanian residents agree that Lithuania should allocate 4 percent. of gross domestic product (GDP) for defense, and around 7 in 10 respondents want politicians to agree on defense funding as soon as possible. This is shown by a survey conducted by the market research company "Norstat LT" in February this year. In order to unite society and encourage politicians to agree on 4% as soon as possible. To defend the GDP allocation, civic-minded Lithuanian businesses and organizations are joining the "4 percent" initiative.
It is initiated by the association "Unicorns Lithuania", the Lithuanian Business Confederation (LVK) and the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK). The initiative is supported by the organization "Blue/Yellow", the companies "Telia Lietuva", "Bitė Lietuva", "Tele2", Tesonet, "Vinted", Teltonikos Group of Companies, HISK, Mantinga, Baltic Classifieds Group, ACC Distribution, Hostinger, Omnisend, Furniture1, Nord Security, Oxylabs, Surfshark, "Telia Global Services Lithuania", "Cybercare", "Attractive", "Mediatech", "Dokobit", professional association of lawyers "WALLESS" and basketball clubs "BC Žalgiris" and "Rytas". It is planned that even more supporters will join the "4 percent" initiative in the future.
According to Mantas Mikucka, Chairman of the Board of Unicorns Lithuania and co-founder of Vinted, no enemy will defeat Lithuania if we are united.
"We must not be afraid and it is time to roll up our sleeves, act, increase defense funding to 4 percent of GDP and thus show the determination of our citizens to the aggressor who seeks to intimidate us." This is the business of all of us, because without a free and strong Lithuania, everything else loses its meaning. As a businessman and citizen of Lithuania, I am determined to pay for our security with higher taxes. I invite politicians to unite and agree on 4% as soon as possible. for defense. Society expects that from you," says M. Mikuckas.
The authors of the initiative invite all citizens who are indifferent to the security of Lithuania to sign the petition on the page www.4procentai.lt and thus urge the politicians to agree on 4% as soon as possible. GDP allocation for the defense of Lithuania. Signing the petition takes less than a minute and can be done using a mobile signature, Smart-ID or other electronic means of personal identification.
With the statement that Lithuania would allocate 4 percent to defense. GDP, 22,8 percent disagree. population, and a fifth of the respondents (20,5%) do not have an opinion - they neither agree nor disagree. 4 percent Allocating GDP to defense is more often supported by residents of big cities.
According to LVK president Andrias Romanovskis, against the backdrop of an unprecedented threat, we must strengthen our defense, so decisions on increasing funding are inevitable. The sooner we agree on them, the safer we will be.
"There is no better investment today - defense money today can ensure the safety of our country, its people and businesses tomorrow." Security does not appear out of nowhere - its strengthening requires decisive and courageous decisions, so everyone must be ready to contribute and take responsibility for the future of our country. This way we will show the aggressor our unity and determination to fight", says A. Romanovskis.
According to the data of the Ministry of National Defense, in 2024 In the Lithuanian budget, 2,7 percent is earmarked for defense. GDP, or almost 2,1 billion euros. In order to allocate 4 percent GDP for defense already in the coming years, defense funding should increase by more than 1 billion annually. euros.
Giedrė Kaminskaitė-Salters, the manager of the company Telia Lietuva, which supports the "4 percent" initiative, reminds us that there were many decisive moments in the history of Lithuania that changed the country's destiny.
"We are at a similar crossroads now, when the whole society has to show that we can, must and want to protect Lithuania. Telia supports the increase in defense funding and is ready to contribute to it, because today it is the biggest investment in the safe future of the country. Lithuania's treasury must be filled not only by higher taxes, but also by our greater determination to defend our people, land and freedom," says G. Kaminskaitė-Salters.
13% disagree with the statement that Lithuanian political parties should agree on higher defense funding as soon as possible. of those interviewed, 17,4 percent. - has no opinion, ie neither agrees nor disagrees.
According to LPK president Vidmantas Janulevičius, the gathering of the business community sends a clear message: strengthening the defense of the country in which we invest and raise our children is a priority issue that requires the involvement of all of us.
"We see and appreciate the Government's efforts in finding additional funding sources. We offer to make maximum use of the opportunities to improve our national defense with non-tax means as well. LPK proposes that Lithuanian companies could contribute to defense by paying their employees for 5 days of military training. That would be a hefty 1,5 to 2 billion pounds. euros, the annual contribution of Lithuanian business to the strengthening of our defense. Let's be ambitious, rational and let's all do what we can to ensure the country's geopolitical security", emphasizes V. Janulevičius.
According to Jonas Ohmanas, one of the founders of the "Blue/Yellow" organization and the chairman of its board, Lithuania no longer has the luxury of delay when making decisions important to the country's security. According to him, increased defense funding would allow Lithuania to send a clear signal that any aggression towards it will be ineffective.
"If you fall Ukraine, followed by Lithuania and other Baltic countries. Therefore, unity and agreement at the highest political level is the first work that must be done in order to dissuade the aggressor from any thoughts about possible military actions against Lithuania", says J. Ohmanas.
All the signatures collected by the "4 percent" initiative together with the text of the petition will be forwarded to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Seimas and the Government. It is intended to be done during the spring session of the Seimas.
