Publications

For the past three decades, since the decision to join NATO, the core of Lithuania’s national security outlook has been based on the strategic security partnership with the United States. For Lithuania, the United States has never been just another ally; it has been the ultimate security guarantor without which neither NATO’s Article 5 nor the broader deterrence architecture in the Baltic region (and Europe, in a broader geopolitical picture) would be credible.

Leaders and guests of the 75-year-old NATO alliance met in Washington DC on 10-11 July. The NATO Washington Summit Declaration released by the leaders highlights reinforces collective defence, new instruments to coordinate assistance and training to Ukraine and pledges significant but unspecified long-term support related to Ukraine’s irreversible path towards NATO membership. The NATO summit outcome assessments are discussed by experts Henrik Larsen and Prof. Tomas Janeliūnas from the Eastern Europe Studies Centre.

The Index of Russia's Influence on Lithuania is the first of its kind to comprehensively assess Russia's influence on Lithuania and to identify areas where Russia's influence may still pose a risk and threat. A periodic fact-check would allow monitoring of the evolving factual situation and help to highlight the most sensitive areas.

An essential factor in this regard is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s an ongoing war, and the Chinese are studying at the tactical level.

In November 2021, Lithuania’s government agreed to establish a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius; in August 2022, Nancy Pelosi, the US Speaker of the House, made a bold visit to Taiwan despite all the threatening rhetoric from the People’s Republic of China.

Washington’s attention and support for Lithuania remains one of the most important tasks in ensuring Lithuania’s security.