Vice Minister of National Defence Tomas Godliauskas was conducting a visit to the United States this past week. He had meetings with Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Colby Jenkins, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (ACT) Admiral Pierre Vandier, representatives of the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG) Colonel Jon Farr and his team members, and leadership of the PA Emergency Management Agency and The MITRE Corporation NGO.
The meetings focussed on strengthening NATO’s collective defence and national defensive capability development highlighting the importance of increasing defence spending, improving force resilience , cyber threat management, civil-military cooperation and further partnership on ensuring stronger national and regional resilience.
“We have been pursuing an extensive and ambitious cooperation programme with the PANG for three decades now. Strong international partnership bonds have played a pivotal role in developing the division level land force command element, as well as in training UH-60 pilots and maintenance personnel and developing cyber capabilities. We especially appreciate the PANG contribution in Lithuanian-hosted and U.S.-hosted cyber security exercises, conducting analysis of cyber threats facing the region, and for the close cooperation with the National Cyber Security Centre. The PANG has contributed closely to new breakthrough in the National Cyber Security Centre framework – development of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre towards a global, international cyber threat analysis initiative,” said Vice Minister T. Godliauskas. He stressed there were plans to further develop the mentioned activities in the future to include cyber threat intelligence exchange, scientific research in cybersecurity, cyber threat hunt operations, and offering more flexible conditions for partners to join Regional Cyber Defence Centre activities.
Vice Minister also attended the International Visitors Day at Exercise Cyber Shield 2025. It is a high level cyber security exercise organized by the U.S. National Guard Bureau uniting over 1000 participants from 16 countries. This year the Lithuanian Armed Forces have delegated Cyber Command personnel to practice threat to critical infrastructure prevention according to the exercise scenario alongside the PANG partners. The exercise is a unique opportunity to “train as you fight” to improve readiness to act in real-life conditions.
When addressing civil-military cooperation themes with the U.S. side, Vice Minister T. Godliauskas introduced Lithuania’s efforts in strengthening the sector. According to him, a close coordination between civilian and military structures is required for efficient state-level threat response. The civilian sector plays a critical role in it: from supplying the resources for the Armed Forces to Host Nation Support for Allied forces. NATO Allies, including Lithuania , are obliged to develop national-level support mechanisms underpinned by cooperation among all key institutions.
Lithuania is already conducting concrete actions in the area – plans are agreed, cooperation procedures are formulated and tested in joint civil-military exercises manned by institutions of different levels, NGOs and business. Another target is to plan clear-cut civil-military cooperation tools across all critical sectors, from healthcare to energy and transport.
Vice Minister also presented Lithuania’s work done in support of total defence. He underscored national defence was not the responsibility of the armed services alone, rather, different institutions, NGOs and business needed to become involved in the process.
When meeting the Palantir Technologies company, Vice Minister discussed further technological solutions in upgrading the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Lithuania launched strategic partnership with the U.S. company which designs top class data analysis and integration tools back 2023.
Vice Minister also met with representatives of MITRE, a non-profit organisation which assists the private sector with the implementation of various security and defence projects. Among the discussed topics were the potential cooperation on optimization and acceleration of military acquisitions and joint projects for strengthening Lithuania’s defensive capabilities and cyber resilience of the state.
Meeting with representatives of the Lithuanian World Community, T. Godliauskas discussed the role of diaspora in total defence. He introduced in detail the activities pursued by the Ministry of National Defence and the Armed Forces oriented at strengthening the ties with diaspora, as well the role of the Lithuanian world community in the civil resistance strategy. In a meeting with members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in diaspora, Vice Minister discussed priority areas, challenges and activity plans, and further directions of cooperation were agreed on.
Lithuania and the United States signed the Bilateral Guidelines of Cyber Security and Defence Cooperation 2025-2029 late last year. The Roadmap lays out three key Lithuania’s priorities: strengthening cyber defence capabilities, increasing public and critical infrastructure resilience and joint training with the U.S. and other Allies.
