Lithuania as host nation

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Tarptautiniai santykiai; NATO; Saugumas; Geopolitika; Išoriniai veiksniai; Gynyba; International relations; NATO; Security; Geopolitics; External threats; Defence.

ENLocated in a geopolitically precarious region, Lithuania has, throughout its history, experienced severe security challenges, some followed by long periods of occupation. This history has impacted how Lithuania has defined its security interests, seeing the state – and sovereignty, specifically – as the main referent object. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty has helped ensure the defence of the Lithuanian state from major external threats since 2004, but its sufficiency has come under question after Russia annexed Crimea and discussion ensued over NATO’s willingness and ability to defend the Baltic states. Lithuanian security documents note that a conventional attack by Russia is one of the most dangerous hypotheticals. Although such an attack is improbable, the dangers remain great because of the severe military balance facing local NATO forces in the Baltic Sea Region. Nevertheless, the eFP deployment, decided at the 2016 Warsaw Summit, improves Lithuanian security. Even the usually reserved former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė admitted that, in Lithuania’s case, for the “first time after our accession to NATO, we have guaranteed serious and long-term military commitments”. But, from a purely military perspective, the asymmetry between Russia and NATO is still a problem. [Extract, p. 71]