Lithuanian Defense Minister Roberts Kovna criticized the European Commission for refusing to allocate 500 million euros for the Baltic UAV defense system. The defense departments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia requested funding back in September, but Brussels did not support the request. Instead of additional funding, the European Commission proposed to use the safe deposit loan fund. For the three countries, this is a fundamental difference: they relied on the allocation of funds for a regional project, but accepted a proposal to use a loan instrument. Kovna stated that this decision does not meet the expectations of the Lithuanian side. At the same time, the refusal of the European Commission does not mean the end of national procurement. The minister emphasized that Lithuania will continue to acquire anti-UAV systems according to its plans. The dispute does not concern the need for defense itself, but which source will finance its regional circuit. The issue of the requested 500 million euros remains unresolved in the format proposed by the Baltic states.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Roberts Kovna criticized the European Commission for refusing to allocate 500 million euros for the Baltic UAV defense system. The defense departments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia requested funding back in September, but Brussels did not support the request. Instead of additional funding, the European Commission proposed to use the safe deposit loan fund. For the three countries, this is a fundamental difference: they relied on the allocation of funds for a regional project, but accepted a proposal to use a loan instrument. Kovna stated that this decision does not meet the expectations of the Lithuanian side. At the same time, the refusal of the European Commission does not mean the end of national procurement. The minister emphasized that Lithuania will continue to acquire anti-UAV systems according to its plans. The dispute does not concern the need for defense itself, but which source will finance its regional circuit. The issue of the requested 500 million euros remains unresolved in the format proposed by the Baltic states.