“Military power is necessary as an expression of deterrence and defence because we don’t know what our enemy is going to do,” underscored former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper while in attendance at the Baltic Military Conference on March 23–24. One of the leading security and defence conferences pulled together scholars, diplomats and the military for a joint debate on the security situation in the eastern flank of NATO. Held ahead of the oncoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Conference focused on the key topics of the military perspective on reinforcing NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.
“This Conference is the principal defence policy event in Lithuania. It is held ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius from which we expect meaningful collective defence decisions. Russia has shattered a period of peace and stability with its war against the sovereign and independent Ukraine. NATO needs to adapt to the security situation of today and to build up defensive capabilities in the eastern flank of the Alliance,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas about the Conference.
Prime Minister pointed out that the peace we enjoy today is won on the battlefield in Ukraine. The daily courage and immeasurable sacrifice of the Ukrainians is buying us time to wake up and face the reality: we are living in the period of war and the aggressor will not stop until it is stopped.
“There is a full-scale war raging, in which we are a full step behind Ukraine’s real needs. I am concerned that war fatigue can lay the foundations for a pseudo peace with Western societies. It would only give the time the aggressor needs to regroup, rearm and fall in for a potentially larger in scale and more devastating war. Absent of any respect whatsoever to human life and democracy, it can be defeated only with our resolve, strength and solidarity. Also, only a full defeat of Russia and full accountability can prevent Russia’s predatory wars for good,” said Prime Minister.
Commandant of the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania Brig Gen Almantas Leika underscored the Conference was a timely opportunity to assess lessons learned in Ukraine and to discuss the measures for strengthening the credibility of NATO’s deterrence and defence.
“If Russia is not cut short in Ukraine, the global security architecture will falter. Ukraine’s chances at success depend directly on the military support we give, so it must come on time and in right volume. It is not only our moral obligation, it is our own security interest,” General said.
This year the Baltic Military Conference was co-hosted with the Atlantic Council U.S. think-tank and held under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė.
The event was first held in 2019 as an attempt at a high-level forum for debate on security and defence topicalities with a focus on the regional dimension.
The Conference is conducted under the Chatham House Rule so that speakers and experts are able to engage in debate and share expert insights freely.
Public addresses, broadcasts and news of the Conference can be found here
Photo credit: Military Academy of Lithuania/E. Genys
