The people of Vilnius agree – the country’s defense needs to be strengthened: they disagree only on a few points

Almost all of the Vilnius residents we met unanimously agreed that the defense needs to be strengthened. Some consider that it should have been started earlier.

“Of course, it’s long overdue, because there are always enemies, there were and they probably won’t disappear,” the man thought.

“We have threats. With such neighbors, we can’t do otherwise – we must take care of national security,” added another resident of Vilnius we met.

Other residents of the capital wondered what kind of threats we are really facing: “I don’t even know the scale, whether it’s necessary or not, what these threats are: real, bigger, smaller. Well, just, you know, I’m not strong in that area. But peace is more important than money, I think.”

The passers-by we met assured that by strengthening the defense we would prepare for all eventualities and remarked: “Today we lack those resources.”

One young man pointed out that such a need is dictated by the geopolitical situation: “I think that it is definitely necessary to strengthen, bearing in mind the geopolitical context in which we live now, the kind of neighbor we unfortunately have. This is inevitable if we want to continue living in relative safety.”

There are also those who do not support the strengthening of national defense: “Do we need to increase funding for defense?” I would say no, because we have no enemies. Belarus or Russia? You know, somehow we’ve always worked with them. And I’m half-Belarusian myself, so why not? Why do we have to go to war with them, if half of Lithuania has many friends from Belarus, then I don’t know why to go to war.”

A senior citizen, asked if 4 percent is offered. GDP seems to her to be a sufficient contribution to national defense, she thought: “You know, I can’t decide, I’m not related to finances – I’m a pensioner, I get a small pension. It would be difficult, but if it’s necessary, it’s necessary.”

And there were those who said that 4 percent – too little: “6 percent should be allocated.”

“That we are another 3 percent we probably didn’t make it. First, 3 percent. let’s do it, and then let’s think about 4 percent. and more”, – the senior looked at the situation realistically, and when asked from which sources the state should finance defense, he added: “This is the Government’s business, they can even issue bonds and involve people so that they also contribute.” Later he added, that people will really be willing to contribute.

And the young man noticed that Lithuania should take examples from neighboring countries: “In my opinion, we should probably emulate the countries of our region. This is, first of all, to Poland, which sets a fairly good example for all neighboring states, so that percentage allocated to defense, I think, should exceed 3%. and eventually reach 4 percent. As for funding sources, I’m really not an expert, I can’t say where it could come from. However, I think that if there is a desire and there is a general consensus, it could really be done.”

Another resident of Vilnius, when asked what the sources of defense funding could be, said: “It’s elementary – we’re stopping the stadium. There are many such projects that are not really needed today. Here, says Turto bankas, the ministry campus needs to be moved, because very large areas are not being used… And this ministry is being reconstructed in order to make large common areas that they can use. These contradict each other.” Here the Vilnius native mentions the construction of the National Stadium, the proposed reorganization of the Ministries of Energy and Economy and Innovation.

In the opinion of another Vilnius resident, first of all, goals should be set for what specific defense capabilities the funds will be needed for: “Perhaps at the beginning we should think about what we will use those funds for. Then it might be easier to raise those funds and figure out where to get them. Maybe we should start with this, and now we can’t decide what we want.”

“4 percent” is a civil society initiative that seeks to get politicians to agree as soon as possible and significantly increase the financing of Lithuanian defense. The initiative was started by the association “Unicorns Lithuania”, the Lithuanian Business Confederation (LVK) and the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), and more and more businesses, organizations and citizens who care about the security of our country contribute to it every day. You can find all the information about the initiative and the special petition that you can sign on the website www.4procentai.lt