Lithuania Adapts Defense Strategy Amidst Evolving Russian Hybrid Threats
Lithuania is fundamentally re-evaluating its security posture in response to persistent and evolving Russian hybrid warfare tactics, which blend cyber, informational, economic, and kinetic elements. The country recognizes that it is no longer operating in peacetime, facing an ongoing hostile campaign below the threshold of open conflict. This campaign includes sabotage, critical infrastructure disruptions, GPS interference, drone incursions, instrumentalized migration, and influence operations. Traditional air defense systems are proving inadequate against small drones, exposing a critical vulnerability. Lithuania's defense strategy is shifting to prioritize resilience, infrastructure protection, and rapid decision-making, moving beyond a traditional military focus to an integrated defense ecosystem that includes government, businesses, infrastructure, and civil society. The long-term security outlook for the Nordic-Baltic region is shaped by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has made the region centr... 
