Scholarlink

Since the early 1990s, Lithuania’s security and defence policy has been aimed at reducing its dependencies on Russia and, in particular, joining NATO and the EU. Although EU membership always included a security element, collective defence within NATO and a strategic partnership with the U.S. were seen as key for deterring an increasingly aggressive and authoritarian Russia. However, concerns about Russia as a long-term threat and U.S. unpredictability under Donald Trump led to domestic political consensus on rapidly increasing defence spending, supporting Ukraine and advocating the EU’s role in coordinating defence policies. This third component is viewed as strengthening Europe’s capacities within NATO, thereby maintaining rather than replacing a U.S. presence. Lithuania’s threat perception, according to the traffic light system, can be classed as ‘red’.

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Lithuania’s Security and Defence Policy: From Overreliance on Collective Defence to Leading by Example

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

查看全文
  • Ramūnas Vilpišauskas

摘要

Since the early 1990s, Lithuania’s security and defence policy has been aimed at reducing its dependencies on Russia and, in particular, joining NATO and the EU. Although EU membership always included a security element, collective defence within NATO and a strategic partnership with the U.S. were seen as key for deterring an increasingly aggressive and authoritarian Russia. However, concerns about Russia as a long-term threat and U.S. unpredictability under Donald Trump led to domestic political consensus on rapidly increasing defence spending, supporting Ukraine and advocating the EU’s role in coordinating defence policies. This third component is viewed as strengthening Europe’s capacities within NATO, thereby maintaining rather than replacing a U.S. presence. Lithuania’s threat perception, according to the traffic light system, can be classed as ‘red’.