On its 75th anniversary, NATO has seized the opportunity to update its policy on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), a commitment that was made during the Vilnius Summit in 2023. A greater focus on deterrence and collective defence is a necessary update as the last iteration of the policy, released in 2018, did not fully articulate how WPS principles would be integrated into this core NATO task.

Threats to the southern flank do not represent such a direct, military, and imminent threat to NATO as Russia does on the Eastern flank, but they do endanger the security of NATO member states and regional partners as recognized in NATO’s Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid in 2022. Despite that recognition and the Alliance’s desire to pay equal attention to every threat in its 360° strategy, the eastern flank deserves much more attention in NATO’s planning than the southern flank.

Irrespective of the outcome of the European elections in June, the new political cycle for 2024-2029 will present the EU with a set of acute yet long-term challenges: Russia's war against Ukraine and its broader confrontation with the West, systemic competition between China and the US, the growing fragmentation of the global economy, accelerating climate change, and the technological transformation. The decisions made by the new EU leadership may thus have consequences for the next several decades of European and Lithuanian security, prosperity, and development.

As we mark 600 days in the midst of conflict and closely examine the behaviour of Russian soldiers in Ukraine, a critical juncture is upon us. The time has arrived to delve into the depths of Russia’s reform and modernization endeavours. In this unfolding narrative, we aim to unveil the essence of ‘Ivan’s War’ on Ukrainian soil. This inquiry poses compelling questions: can we truly decipher the unique contours of their military culture and, consequently, discern a distinct Russian way of war?

The Index of Russia's Influence on Lithuania is the first of its kind to comprehensively assess Russia's influence on Lithuania and to identify areas where Russia's influence may still pose a risk and threat. A periodic fact-check would allow monitoring of the evolving factual situation and help to highlight the most sensitive areas.

The issue of Moldova’s reintegration came to the fore again after the authorities in Chisinau began the transposition of the new Customs Code, starting in January 2024. The political focus of this exercise is on the Transnistria region and is a first attempt to improve economic integration with the rest of Moldova.

Institutions and organizations researching and monitoring the informational policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are observing a dramatic increase and expansion in the regime’s efforts to shape and influence the global information space.