On June 24 in The Hague, Linas Kojala, Director of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center (GSSC), participated as one of the speakers in the opening session of the NATO 2025 Summit Public Forum titled “Setting the Stage for Summit.” The session focused on the urgent need to increase defense spending in order to implement NATO’s approved defense plans, emphasized the importance of deterrence, and addressed the psychological pressure exerted by aggressors as well as the significance of societal resilience. Other participants included Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel, Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Anna Van Zoest, Director of the Netherlands Atlantic Association. The discussion was moderated by Dutch broadcaster Ikenna Azuike.
On June 24, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center (GSSC) participated in the event “NATO in the Huis,” organized by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Clingendael in The Hague, Netherlands, joining the world’s leading international think tanks, where it hosted a high-level roudntable discussion on NATO’s Eastern Flank titled “NATO’s Eastern Flank: Ready Enough, Soon Enough?“. The roundtable discussion featured high-level guests including Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė, Munich Security Conference Executive Director Benedikt Franke, and over fifty experts in security, defense, international relations, as well as academics and journalists. The discussion was moderated by GSSC Director Linas Kojala.
The discussion addressed today’s security challenges on NATO’s eastern flank and the state of defense readiness. Participants emphasized that although the Alliance still faces serious challenges, rapid and significant changes are underway—military planning is becoming more consistent, defense budgets are increasing, and political will is growing. Speakers also shared insights on the need to align national rhetoric with real action, identifying the integration of civilian and military industries and increased support for Ukraine as key priorities. It was also stressed that Europe must take greater responsibility instead of relying solely on the United States. Ultimately, there was agreement that NATO is now a much stronger and more ambitious alliance than it was two years ago—and that this momentum must be sustained.
