The Russian factor in the present security policy of Lithuania : on the basis of MSc in global security dissertation academic year 2000-2001
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Europa; Baltijos šalys (Baltic states); Užsienio politika; Plėtra; Saugumas; Europe; Baltic States; Foreign policy; Enlargement; Security; Rusija (Russia).
ENDuring the period under examination (1996-2002), the geostrategic environment underwent remarkable changes, the main of them being the events of 11 September 2001 and dual enlargement of NATO and the EU. NATO admitted three Central European countries - Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - in 1999, and extended invitations to seven candidate countries from Central and Easter Europe including the three Baltic States at the Prague summit in November 2002. In the meantime the post-Soviet Russia has been engaged in a difficult and ambivalent process of selfredefinition, NATO intervention in Kosovo took place, the new NATO’s Strategic Concept, as well as Russia’s National Security Blueprint and Military Doctrine, were adopted, and finally, Russia’s rapprochement with the West in the aftermath of September 11 occurred. Simultaneously, the national security and defence establishments in Lithuania have been built and security enhancement policies have been designed. Lithuania’s security is predetermined to a large extent by Russian policy: will Russia adhere with full responsibility democratic principles and international legal norms, or will it depend on peculiarities of the behaviour of the "velikaya derzhava" (great power)? On the whole, Lithuania maintains good neighbourly relations with Russia, particularly with the Kaliningrad Region, and seeks purposefully membership of the Euro-Atlantic institutions - NATO and the European Union. It is Lithuanian membership of the Alliance that will create a robust basis for future stable mutual relations with Russia.Given Lithuania’s historical experience, the amount of co-operation (especially in defence and security domains) with Russia it can afford depends primarily on how firmly Lithuania has already anchored in the Euro-Atlantic collective security institutions. Europe’s, and in particular, Lithuania’s security can only be achieved through integrating Russia into a security community with the rest of Europe and the United States. This is the true security guarantee. Russia’s pro-Western course following the September 11 terrorist attacks provides a good opportunity for Lithuania, as a future member of the Alliance, to advance its relations with Russia in accordance with NATO and EU policies and existing instruments and to contribute to NATO - Russia and EU-Russia partnership and co-operation. This paper examines the main dimensions of vulnerabilities and challenges, arising from the contemporary Russian policy towards Lithuania and analyses the implications of their negative (or positive) impact. In addition to this, it addresses the role of international players and foras in engaging Russia into regional co-operation. Finally, the dissertation provides guidelines for the present Lithuanian security policy aimed not only at strengthening national security, but also at contributing to regional and Euro-Atlantic security and stability. [Annotation in the book]
