Lithuania’s Defense Minister, Arvindas Anousauskas, has submitted his resignation, the country’s government announced late Friday, without disclosing the reasons.

Prime Minister Igrinda Simonite received her resignation letter earlier yesterday, her services said. Whether he will accept her is not yet clear.

Ms Simonite is expected to make a statement on the matter the day after tomorrow, Monday, according to Lithuanian media.

Mr. Anousauskas, who took office in December 2020, has not spoken publicly so far.

In general, in Lithuania, ministers are appointed or dismissed from their duties by a decision of the president, on the recommendation of the prime minister. Mr Anousauskas is reportedly planning to meet with President Gitanas Nausenda today.

Lithuania neighbors the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus. The war in Ukraine is perceived in Vilnius as an immediate threat to Lithuanian national security.

The small Baltic country, a member of both the EU and NATO, has greatly increased its military spending in recent years.