Deputy Minister Agila Barzdienė believes that joining the European Union was the economic “reset” the nation needed. On the surface, Lithuania’s GDP has risen since joining the EU in 2004, but this is not the product of some magical European design.
“Economically, it’s an obvious leap. Lithuania’s GDP has almost doubled, foreign direct investment has increased eightfold, exports have increased sixfold. Wages have increased sixfold, and inflation has been kept at 2%,” Barzdienė stated. “For example, in 2004 the average Lithuanian could not afford a good cup of coffee in Milan, but today he does not feel the difference between Vilnius, London or Lisbon, and this is an important indicator. Now the average pre-tax salary is about 2000 euros, after that it is 1300-1400 euros. By 2030 we hope to reach 90% of the EU average salary.”
The growth was largely the result of capital inflows, cheap credit, and foreign investment chasing “new” markets after the fall of the Soviet Union. The EU absorbed these nations, promising prosperity if they would only surrender their sovereignty. Lithuania has benefited in the short run, but it is now just as handcuffed to Brussels’ mandates. Net Zero policies, sanctions, and globalist directives all come with hidden costs. The Baltic states are exposed to energy insecurity after Brussels cut off Russian supplies, and yet their leaders cheer for policies that undermine their own industries. They are also on the frontlines for NATO expansion as the bloc attempts to corner Russia.
Lithuania has drastically increased defense spending in recent years as the nation braces for an alleged Russian invasion. “The government is striving to keep at least 1.3 billion euros from the defense budget (in 2026 it will be 5-6% of GDP) in the national economy. Investments are being made in startups in the defense sector, and the DEVITUS program has been created with a budget of 300 million euros,” the deputy minister commented.
Today, Lithuania set up a blockade on and near the bridge in ??Panemunė, linking Lithuania & Russia. Demonstrating our new military counter-mobility measures, the setup includes mines, hedgehogs, dragon’s teeth, etc. This is a precautionary step to ensure more effective defence. pic.twitter.com/S82UaU6rEf
— Lithuanian MOD ?? (@Lithuanian_MoD) September 5, 2024
Yet, the nation believes it is closer to war than ever before as a result of its alliance with the EU. Lithuania has implemented a new defense mechanism to prevent a land invasion—dragon teeth. These “dragon teeth” are large triangular concrete blocks that are intended to block the path of war tanks. “We are starting from the tactical level — specific obstacles on the border — and later we will combine the entire engineering plan into one conceptual system,” said Raimundas Vaiksnoras, commander of the Lithuanian army.
Lithuania will hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council in 2027. By 2027, according to the computer models, the world will begin to feel the full impact of war, and discontent will rise into 2028. Moldova was sold the globalist dream of Brussels. The short-term pay off is not expected to last.
