On December 10, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center (GSSC), in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, the Atlantic Council, the German Embassy in Vilnius, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and other partners, organized the tenth annual conference in memory of Lithuania’s Chief Diplomat, Stasys Lozoraitis.
Publications
China review 2024-3. China and Russia relations.
Diplomatic interactions between China and Russia remain frequent and take place at the highest levels. Between July and September, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had as many as eight high-level meetings with their Chinese counterparts in various formats. The frequency of these meetings signals a strong focus from both sides on strengthening relations and expanding cooperation, exemplified by the first China–Russia consultation on the peaceful Uses of Outer Space Affairs, held on 8 August.
Critical elections in Georgia and Moldova: Is there a risk of a “color revolution”?
Significant political shifts can be expected in Georgia and Moldova if the October elections favor opposition forces. The Georgian legislative elections on October 26 may lead to a redistribution of political power, currently concentrated in the hands of the Eurosceptic ruling party, Georgian Dream.
China’s EV Case: A Testing Ground for the EU’s Genuine Foreign Economic Policy
Mario Draghi, the former President of the European Central Bank, recently unveiled a long-awaited plan aimed at invigorating Europe’s economic growth. Central to his proposal is a call for the European Union (EU) to adopt a genuine foreign economic policy. For this ambition to be realized, unity among the EU’s 27 member states on their approach to China policy is essential.
Countering Russian hybrid interference with EU sanctions
Ukrainian diplomacy in favour of sanctions against Russian military aggression, which began in February 2022, drew attention to threats linked to Russian hybrid operations in Europe. In this context, the EU experienced a geopolitical awakening, reflecting its internal vulnerabilities to the malign influence exerted unhindered by Russia on EU member states for decades.
China review 2024-2. The geopolitical puzzle of the South China Sea. Does China’s ambitions are facing regional resistance?
The developments in the South China Sea have recently received more media attention than ever before. The region’s contested nature is not new: territorial claims by various countries have frequently placed it at the centre of disputes (e.g., in the first half of the 20th century, France formally declared that the Paracel and Spratly Islands belonged to the French Union).
Results of the NATO summit in Washington
Leaders and guests of the 75-year-old NATO alliance met in Washington DC on 10-11 July. The NATO Washington Summit Declaration released by the leaders highlights reinforces collective defence, new instruments to coordinate assistance and training to Ukraine and pledges significant but unspecified long-term support related to Ukraine’s irreversible path towards NATO membership. The NATO summit outcome assessments are discussed by experts Henrik Larsen and Prof. Tomas Janeliūnas from the Eastern Europe Studies Centre.
Review of “frozen conflicts” in the EU neighbourhood: Rearrangement of the regional security chessboard
The transformation of “frozen conflicts” in the EU-Russia common neighbourhood around the Black Sea region is in full swing in some cases, and somewhat intact in others. The central factor in the changing geopolitical environment surrounding post-Soviet territorial conflicts remains the 2022 Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
“Thus, all the West must do is maintain military and economic support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. A firm and principled response against aggression is the only language that Putin understands—and it clearly makes him uncomfortable”
“Things like the war in Ukraine are a good lesson for us, they give us time to ready ourselves. The Ukrainians are buying us time, we need to use that well and prepare”
“The Lithuanian government is keeping its promise to promote values-oriented diplomacy, which is grounded in an appreciation for diversity, dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful resolutions of disputes in all domains of international relations”
NATO 2023
NATO Public Forum
The NATO Public Forum was co-organised by NATO, the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Munich Security Conference, kicked off today.
Discussion “NATO Summit in Vilnius: Priorities and Expectations”
The speakers stressed the need to strengthen further cooperation with Pacific partners, particularly in the area of information and intelligence.
Discussion on whether is Europe ready to Face Hardships in Support of Ukraine
The Eastern Europe Studies Centre, in cooperation with the Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme and Lithuanian Embassy in London, hosted the discussion "Is Europe ready to face hardships in support of Ukraine?".
Media library
The 9th Annual EESC Conference on Lithuanian Foreign Policy, Commemorating Stasys Lozoraitis
On 12 December, the EESC, together with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, organised the 9th Annual EESC Conference on Lithuanian Foreign Policy, Commemorating Stasys Lozoraitis. The conference took place at the Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius and covered Ukraine’s struggle for its freedom, the role of artificial intelligence in international relations, Germany’s role in Lithuania and Europe’s security infrastructure, and the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington DC.
Research programmes of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre
The aim of the research programmes is to analyse the most important processes in international politics, security and economics, to understand their impact on Lithuania, to make recommendations to decision-makers and to inform the general public. The content of the programmes includes the preparation of analytical studies and publications, the organisation of conferences, and the production of visual material. Analytical work is carried out by leading Lithuanian and foreign experts.
