Europe Only Has Two Years – Lithuanian Defense Minister Sounds the Alarm

Time Is Not on Europe’s Side

During the Defence24 Days conference, Lithuania’s Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė issued a stark warning: Europe no longer has three to five years to prepare for a potential Russian aggression.

According to her, the reality is far more pressing. “We may only have two to three years,” she stated, pointing to the dangerous state of limbo that many European countries are in.

She emphasized that even minor setbacks in negotiations or easing of sanctions against Russia could accelerate the risk of conflict. “If the result [of negotiations] is negative, if peace is achieved poorly – especially if sanctions against Russia are eased – then we don’t have three to five years, but only two to three years to prepare,” Šakalienė said.

From Declarations to Real Action

The major issue, according to the minister, is speed.

Europe talks about security but isn’t acting fast enough. Despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Europe remains in a buildup phase instead of having completed defense structures and launched production.

She called for more than political statements – there is an urgent need for concrete industrial cooperation. “We need to develop small defense companies.

Proactive joint initiatives are needed. We must collaborate at the industrial level – not just talk, but real, fast production,” she stressed.

Inaction Could Be Seen as Weakness

Šakalienė warned against allowing internal disputes and excessive bureaucracy to hinder the necessary progress. According to her, this is strategically dangerous, as Russia may see it as an opportunity.

“We must not turn defense tools into a battleground for political quarrels,” she said, emphasizing the need for a clear signal to the Kremlin – both militarily and politically.

She called international industrial coordination “indispensable” and emphasized that everything produced in the coming years will go directly to the defense forces.

A Watchful Eye to the East

Lithuania, which borders Russia through Kaliningrad and Belarus, is among the most exposed EU countries. As such, the Baltic nation has also been one of the most vocal advocates for robust and rapid European defense cooperation.

The defense minister’s message is not just a national concern but a call to all of Europe. Inaction and disunity are no longer options – if Europe wants to avoid being unprepared, decision-makers must act now.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.