“There is no universal response to every hybrid threat because they all are inherently meant to make use of specific vulnerabilities of concrete countries. But countries in the same region are facing similar hybrid threats, therefore we have to continue developing regional and NATO, as well as EU, mechanisms for enhancing resilience,” Vice Minister V. Umbrasas said at the conference panel “100 Years Together: Preventing Hybrid Warfare to Divide Europe’s Eastern Flank”.
Vice Minister stressed in his remarks that each country must know its weaknesses and prepare to counter threats, aside from the importance of international cooperation.
He also pointed out hybrid threats relevant to Lithuania, such as armed incidents during peacetime or border violations, cyber and information threats, or attempts to influence ethnic minorities or electoral processes. The undissolving conventional war threat for Lithuania and other neighbours of Russia was also mentioned.
The conference took place in Bucharest, Romania. The event addressed hybrid threats in the Black Sea and Eastern European regions and means to counter such threats. It was attended by new Minister of National Defence of Romania Gabriel Les, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Tacan Ildem, and others.
After the conference Vice Minister V. Umbrasas met with acting Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence of Romania, Director of the Department of Defence Policy and Planning Brig Gen Vasile Bucur and discussed topicalities and prospects of bilateral cooperation.
The officials also exchanged information on security situation in the regions, discussed plans and priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semester of 2019 and plans in the area of Eastern Partnership. Other topics addressed were topicalities of cooperation in NATO, EU, and regional formats, and Lithuania’s invitation to Romania to participate in activities of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius was considered.
Defence cooperation of Romania and Lithuania gained pace in 1998 when an agreement on bilateral cooperation was signed by the respective defence ministries. The document was updated in 2010. Currently both countries participate in joint NATO, EU, and regional initiatives and projects, such as projects in the framework of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO): development of the EU cyber response teams and military mobility. Cooperation on training C-27J Spartan crews is also expanded.
Lithuania and Romanian military personnel are training in joint exercises, cooperate on military training, expert-level meetings are held. In 2007 the Romanian Air Force took part with four MiG-21 LanceR fighter aircraft in the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states conducted from Šiauliai Airbase.
