“Over the past four years the most ambitious stage of national defence and Armed Forces upgrowth yet has been started: defence spending commitments have been met for the first time, historically largest weaponry and infrastructure projects have been launched, assurances from our allies are stronger than ever before. Lithuania needs to have a strong and modern Armed Forces and other capabilities because we are facing bigger threats now than at any other point since regaining independence,” outgoing Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis summarized his accomplishments in the position.
“Lithuania has demonstrated an intense concentration and achieved a substantial break-through over the recent years, nonetheless, we cannot stop there, the threats are not gone, we have to continue increasing defence spending, modernisation of the Armed Forces, practical development of military infrastructure, increasing Armed Forces manpower and ensuring proper logistical provision. We will further strengthen collective defence commitments: the foundation of our security. We must move to a new quality of approach to national security. We must implement the principle of comprehensive security which builds on active participation and preparedness for both, armed defence and non-military threats, not only of the Armed Forces but also the entire state and all citizens. In order to achieve it, the civic-patriotic education has to be enhanced, the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union has to be further integrated into state defence. My ambition is to have a state and society that are more resilient to hybrid and cyber threats, even stronger Lithuanian Armed Forces, and a grown confidence of the public in national defence after the four years ahead.” said the incoming Minister of National Defence, A. Anušauskas.
A.Anušauskas is a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. He was a history student at Vilnius University, got employed at the Lithuanian Institute of History after graduation. A. Anušauskas defended his PhD in 1995 and began his career as an educator. In 1996-1997, he was Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Vytautas Magnus University. He was also Associate Professor at the Department of History of Lithuania, Faculty of History, Vilnius Pedagogical University. Awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2001. In 2002 he became Associate Professor of the Department of Modern History, Faculty of History, Vilnius University and Visiting Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University. From 1997 to 2008 A. Anušauskas was the Director of the Genocide and Resistance Research Department at the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania. He has published approx. 100 articles in Lithuanian, Polish, Latvian, French and German press. Author of and contributor to many books. A. Anušauskas has been recognized with the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania, the 4th Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of the Republic of Estonia, and the decoration of honor “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star” by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.