defence

Lithuanian and foreign military analysts have been looking into hypothetical scenarios of a hybrid war breaking out in the Baltics for some time now - most of them envisage an attack from Russia, forgetting or simply ignoring the possibility of such an attack coming from Belarus.

The US should stop making defence promises which serve the interests of other nations rather than America, argues Doug Bandow, analyst of the libertarian Cato Institute, in commenting on Washington's recent announcement of a significant boost to its forces in Europe.

One cannot choose one's neighbours. We have been assigned ours by history and geography. Lithuania has not been dealt a good hand. Although historic threats from Germany have retreated, Russia remains a dangerous neighbour. Lithuania will be vulnerable until Russia undergoes a radical transformation...

Britain is sending five warships to Lithuania and the Baltics as part of an increased NATO presence in the region to act as a deterrent against Russia.

Over the past few years Lithuania has been buying plenty of new weaponry for its armed forces, but the purchase of ammunition reserves to go with them has not kept pace.

Russian media has been flooded with articles in which senior Russian officials openly explain how they will attack and occupy the Baltic countries, but the Lithuanian foreign minister said the propaganda would not escalate tensions.

About 67% of the Lithuanian population fully or in part agree on the need to increase defence funding to 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP), shows a poll published by the Ministry of National Defence.

Gintaris Satkus was appointed as new director of Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association (LGSPA) and will be responsible for the executive branch of the Association, LGSPA said in a statement.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says if defence funding continues to be raised at the current rate, Lithuania's spending on defence will reach the set goal of 2 percent of GDP earlier than planned. Still, the prime minister notes that actual funding will depend on Lithuania's economic...

Lithuania hopes to reach a national defence spending level of 2 percent GDP by 2018, two years earlier than was originally estimated, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, 17 June, the defence ministers of three Baltic states are opening the lecture room named the Baltic Way in the Baltic Defence College, in the framework of the graduation ceremony.

Introducing the Government's annual activity report for 2014 at the Seimas, parliament, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius started with the mention of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal project, the adoption of the euro and augmentation of Lithuania's defence capabilities.

Member of the European Parliament Petras Auštrevičius has raised the idea of including Lithuania's commitment to spend 2 percent of GDP on defence into the Constitution.

Lithuania, as a small nation, needs to unite all forces, including politicians and journalists, on security issues in the wake of existing threats, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says.

Germany is set to sell artillery systems – 12 self-propelled howitzers PzH 2000 – to Lithuania, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said in Vilnius on Wednesday.

During Friday's meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė stressed that regional security is a common interest of both Lithuania and Estonia.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said after meeting with his Baltic counterparts on Friday that the three Baltic states should consider joint acquisition of weaponry as part of defence cooperation.

The Lithuania Tribune spoke with Eoin McNamara, PhD Researcher, the University of Tartu. Baltic defence cooperation. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this cooperation, we asked Mr. McNamara.

Chris Donnelly, former adviser to NATO Secretary General, currently on a visit in Lithuania, suggested on Wednesday amending the North Atlantic Treaty and activating collective defence not only in cases of armed attacks.

The Russian military has put into service new missiles meant for the S-300V4 anti-ballistic system; they have a range of 400 kilometres, a representative of the Russian Defence Ministry said, adding that the new missiles will be first deployed in Russia's western regions.