Schedule of the visit by Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius to the United States of America included a high-level meeting on consolidation of international counter-ransomware efforts. Lithuania is one of the leaders of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI). Vice Minister discussed Lithuania’s leadership in the region with representatives of the Pentagon, National Security Council and the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Responsibility and recognition
Facilitated by the U.S. National Security Council, the CRI brings together over 36 countries from across the globe, while Lithuania and India co-heads one of its most important working groups for resilience.
Contribution to the CRI encompasses Lithuania’s efforts to fight the Russian cybercrime aiming to disrupt states, societies, entire sectors and causing massive damage to private and public sectors every year.
“We are convinced that only a stable and frank cooperation through organizing partner competencies will be instrumental for a systemic build-up of resilience to cyber threats and an effective management of such threats. Lithuania takes up great responsibility but also enjoys recognition of being able to lead one of the key CRI working groups,” said M. Abukevičius said at the CRI summit meeting.
Lithuania put forward practical proposals to improve information exchange between allies and partners and to create a network of partners for dissemination of relevant data analysis – key components for prevention of cyber crime, bringing criminal actors to justice and maximization of restoring states and societies back after damage. The unifying information sharing platforms will be implemented by the Regional Cyber Defence Centre (RCDC), a sub-branch of the National Cyber Security Center under the Ministry of National Defence.
Lithuania develops practical operation in the area of cyber security by means of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre co-founded with the U.S. The RCDC whose members are also Poland, Georgia and Ukraine conducts cyber threat analysis exchange and planning of international cyber exercises. RCDC activities are particularly relevant for Allies and partners in terms of a thorough evaluation of the Russian cyberattacks paired with the physical war.
Continued future growth of cooperation with the U.S.
While on the trip to the United States, Vice Minister M. Abukevičius also discussed cybersecurity cooperation with the U.S. in bilateral meetings with Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy Mieke Eoyang.
Addressing the Russian mass cyberattacks that Lithuania suffered in summer, A. Neuberger called Lithuania’s readiness to ensure cybersecurity and prevent the hostile states from achieving their goals by means of speeding panic a clear example of cyber resilience to other Allies.
Lithuania and the United States cooperate actively on strengthening NATO cyber capabilities in the run-up to the NATO Summit in Vilnius due next year. A. Neuberger underscored the appreciation of Lithuania’s contribution to the planning of NATO’s virtual cybersecurity capability formation.
M. Eoyang stressed the critical and continued need for Lithuania’s experience in countering cyber threats from Russian and China, as well as the analysis and work carried out in assembling regional European and Indo-pacific partners. She also asserted that the RCDC co-founded with Lithuania actually facilitated a much better understanding of cyber threats in the region and in Ukraine in particular. According to M. Eoyang, the success of managing the DDOS attacks against Lithuania enable sharing lessons learned with partners and demonstrating an effective management role model.
M. Abukevičius also had a meeting with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal in Washington. The U.S. official said that Lithuania was an extraordinary example to follow in terms of clear-eyed view on the China challenge to the international system. According to him, the U.S. was willing to lend a hand to smaller countries against the revanchist ambitions of China and Russia, and while Lithuania was small, it was a powerful partner and a role model to other EU neighbors.
One of the destinations of Vice Minister’s visit to the United States was Pennsylvania where he met with representatives and units of the Pennsylvania National Guard in charge of cybersecurity. Deputy Adjutant General–Air for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Brig Gen Michael J. Regan Jr. said his troops were happy to train in international exercises, both, kinetic and cyber, as well as in other activities across Lithuania. He said he greatly appreciated the skills and knowledge the service members brought home and he believed it was a mutually beneficial endeavor and cybersecurity cooperation will grow further.
International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2022 Joint Statement
