Defense Ministers from the Baltic region hold discussions with Hegseth at the Pentagon

The Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have made a significant commitment to boost their defense capabilities, pledging to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP by 2025. This move, which represents a substantial increase from their current spending levels, is in line with the commitments made at the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague.

Each of the Baltic States has its own plan to reach this target. Estonia, currently spending around 3.43% of its GDP on defense, aims to increase this to approximately 5.4% by 2029 through approved additional defense funding. Latvia, with a current spending level of 3.15% of GDP, and Lithuania, spending around 2.85%, have also aligned their plans to reach the 5% target.

This increased spending pledge has a major impact on NATO, particularly on its eastern flank bordering Russia. It strengthens NATO’s collective defense capabilities, enhances European burden-sharing, and demonstrates strong political will from frontline states to counter long-term threats, reinforcing NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.

The increased spending could potentially allow more resources and military assets to become available within Europe, enabling the U.S. to redirect resources to other strategic regions. This is a crucial development, given the U.S.'s many commitments worldwide, including ensuring its own security and preventing war in the Indo-Pacific region.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with defense ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania at the Pentagon on Friday, where the Baltic ministers pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense. Hegseth thanked the Baltic States for their commitment, stating that their efforts to modernize their militaries and invest in their combat capabilities will deter aggressors and increase their readiness to repel aggression.

Hegseth also praised the Baltic States for their support to US troops and their example to other allies. He highlighted the deployment of HIMARS (High Precision Artillery System) in the Baltic States, which has helped train their armies before they receive the equipment themselves.

The Baltic Defense Ministers expressed appreciation for U.S. leadership in pushing European allies to increase defense budgets. They also emphasized the importance of integrated training and operational cooperation with U.S. forces stationed in the region.

The Estonian defense minister, Juri Pevkur, stated that Friday's meeting is a testament to the strong and reliable cooperation between the Baltic States and the U.S. Lithuanian defense minister, Arvydas Anusauskas (also known as Sakaliene), added that Lithuania considers US soldiers as family members.

Hegseth stressed that the U.S. remains fully committed to NATO and will work towards achieving peace in Europe through strength. This commitment from the Baltic States and the U.S. marks a significant step towards a "stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO," ensuring the alliance's readiness to meet evolving security challenges.

Defense Ministers from the Baltic region hold discussions with Hegseth at the Pentagon