For the fourth consecutive year, we present the Democracy Sustainability Barometer, aiming to systematically measure, evaluate, and compare the attitudes of Lithuanian residents toward democracy and their resilience to propaganda from authoritarian states in the East.
Publications
Reintegration with or without EU enlargement: Can Transnistria be co-opted in Moldova’s EU accession process?
Moldova has made notable progress in its relations with the European Union (EU). In just three years, from 2022 to 2025, the EU’s smallest eastern neighbour advanced from being an associated partner to a candidate country ready to begin accession negotiations.
Europe and Asia in a Time of Uncertainty: A Conversation Between Dr. Lee Sungwon and Dr. Konstantinas Andrijauskas | LFPR Vol. 44, 2026
Dr. Lee Sungwon and Dr. Konstantinas Andrijauskas analyse how Russia’s war against Ukraine, Europe’s rearmament, and the tightening Russia–China–North Korea triangle are reshaping security links between Europe and South Korea, arguing that deeper cooperation – from defence industry ties to cyber and critical infrastructure protection – is becoming a strategic necessity for both regions.
Japan’s Security Reset, Alliance Management, and Europe: A Conversation with Tomoyuki Yoshida | LFPR Vol. 44, 2026
Tomoyuki Yoshida examines why Japan is doubling its defence spending, how it is strengthening deterrence together with the United States and regional partners, and how Chinese and North Korean threats - as well as the war in Ukraine - shape Japan’s view of the security link between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
“Citizens First, Total Defense Always”: An Interview with Colonel Linas Idzelis on the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union | LFPR Vol. 44, 2026
Colonel Linas Idzelis analyzes the role of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in Lithuania’s total defence and societal resilience, highlighting key challenges such as rapid membership growth, limited training and infrastructure, and equipment gaps, and explains why Lithuania needs a clearer vision of citizens’ roles in both armed and unarmed resistance in times of crisis or military threat.
Rising Altitudes, Raising Political Stakes: Hybrid Threats as a New Addition in Lukashenka’s Transactional De-Isolation Attempt
Following the two days of negotiations, on December 13, the U.S. represented by the special envoy John Coale managed to reach another interim deal with Belarus’ regime on the release of 123 political prisoners, including a part of very prominent political opponents and activists,
“A Frontline State Chairs Europe in 2027”: Conversation with Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus | LFPR Vol. 44, 2026
As Lithuania prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus discusses how a NATO frontline state is getting ready to lead the Union. The key themes are support for Ukraine, strengthening EU security and defence, enlargement, competitiveness, and Lithuania’s role as an honest broker in a complex geopolitical environment.
“Deterrence, Messaging, and a Europe-Led Defense”: An Interview with Ilan Berman | LFPR Vol. 44, 2026
Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council (Washington, DC), argues that Europe is finally mobilising seriously against the Russian threat, yet the divide between Eastern and Western Europe persists. The interview explores why informational power matters as much as military force, why Washington’s call for Europe to “do more” is justified, and why the war in Ukraine is part of a broader struggle over the Western order.
“Thus, all the West must do is maintain military and economic support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. A firm and principled response against aggression is the only language that Putin understands—and it clearly makes him uncomfortable”
“Things like the war in Ukraine are a good lesson for us, they give us time to ready ourselves. The Ukrainians are buying us time, we need to use that well and prepare”
“The Lithuanian government is keeping its promise to promote values-oriented diplomacy, which is grounded in an appreciation for diversity, dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful resolutions of disputes in all domains of international relations”
Media library
The 11th GSSC Vilnius Forum
On November 21, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Centre, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, together with the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Lithuania, the Atlantic Council, the Munich Security Conference (MSC), RAND Europe, GLOBSEC, and LRT, organized the eleventh forum dedicated to the memory of Lithuanian diplomat Stasys Lozoraitis.
Focus Areas of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center
The aim of the focus areas is to analyse the most important processes in international politics, security and economics, to understand their impact on Lithuania, to make recommendations to decision-makers and to inform the general public. The content of the programmes includes the preparation of analytical studies and publications, the organisation of conferences, and the production of visual material. Analytical work is carried out by leading Lithuanian and foreign experts.
