On November 12 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas received Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence Kari A. Bingen, U.S. Department of State, on a visit in Lithuania. The official has arrive to become more familiar with the regional security situation and to discuss present and potential areas for cooperation.
Vice Minister briefed the guest on the security situation in the region noting that Russia remained to be the main threat because of the aggressive revisionist policy it was pursuing, spread of disinformation, and cyber-attacks. Vice Minister also underscored that Lithuania identified China as a potential threat in the National Risk Assessment for the first time this year.
“Lithuania is applying different ways to strengthen our security. We are investing into defence capabilities, increasing and modernising our armed forces. Still, we cannot deter Russia alone. That requires support of our allies, particularly the United States. We are very happy to see the increasing U.S. presence in the region and we thank for the U.S. battalion currently here in Lithuania,” V. Umbrasas said.
The U.S. official was interested in Lithuania’s priorities in strengthening national defence capabilities, as well as in investments and cooperation in the area of intelligence. She underscored that the demand for intelligence changed as a result of the change in the threat, therefore cooperation was vital to ensure that we had the same understanding of threats and could apply suitable measures to reduce them.
K. A. Bingen also visited the National Cyber Security Centre under the Ministry of National Defence where she was briefed on its activities and discussed cybersecurity issues with representatives of the Centre.
Photo credits: Alfredas Pliadis (MoD)
