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Nowadays the world is facing the new unconventional threats, such as terrorism, piracy, potential energy supplies disruptions, cyber crimes, etc.

Lithuania joined the NATO in the group of 7 Central and Eastern European nations on the 29th of March 2004. By this act, a longstanding dream of Lithuania came true: our country became a member of the defensive alliance of the democratic states, based on respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights, rule of law and other democratic principles.  Lithuania needed it to secure its regained freedom and independence.

Although security of the country and collective defense are the two major factors which brought Lithuania to the NATO, we clearly understand that we can’t be merely consumers of security, which is provided by the organization. We also have strong obligation to contribute to international security. That’s why Lithuania sent hundreds of troops and police forces to the “hot spots” of the world: Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans. Already 5 years Lithuania leads the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province in Afghanistan.

Preparing for the Lisbon Summit, Lithuania is participating in a drafting of the NATO’s new Strategic Concept, the first to be adopted since the enlargement of the alliance. In this document, Lithuania, as well as other NATO members, the collective defense would like to see as the core function of the alliance. The commitments of Article 5 of Washington Treaty, which in fact mean reassurance within the NATO, have to be supported by practical measures. Only safety and security of all members of the alliance can assure its successful external action and relationship with non-member countries.

Nowadays the world is facing the new unconventional threats, such as terrorism, piracy, potential energy supplies disruptions, cyber crimes etc. In a new Strategic Concept, Lithuania supports the development of the NATO capabilities to respond to these new challenges, especially clear alliance’s role in the area of energy security. But it is imperative that this not be done at the expense of its core function.

Lithuania strongly supports NATO’s Open door policy, which is a crucial contribution to the security and stability in Euro-Atlantic region. Enlargement of the Alliance is a vivid political process between the NATO and aspirant countries and should remain such, guided by the Article 10 of Washington Treaty. In this respect, Lithuania is of the opinion that, according to Bucharest NATO Summit decisions, the status of Georgia and Ukraine, as future members of the Alliance, should be correctly reflected in NATO’s new Strategic Concept.

Ambassador of Lithuania to Portugal

Dr Algimantas Rimkūnas