Geopolitics and Security Studies Center

#Personal: Some exciting news! I found out that my policy brief on reintegration and EU accession of Moldova was recommended by the EU Council in its Think-Tank Review for February: consilium.europa.eu/el/documents-p… This piece, signed for the @GSSC_LT in Lithuania, explores the implications of EU enlargement on the resolution of "frozen conflicts" in the post-Soviet space. You can check out the paper in the link below 👇

Despite the narrative that the transatlantic relationship is a ‘one way street’, the war in Iran also shows that the US needs European allies for logistics and planning. However, Europeans should move faster from simply saying ‘no’ to adopting more proactive solutions.

The Iran war crisis is becoming a new test of Europe’s energy resilience. In his bulletin, GSSC Associate Expert Saulius Rimutis analyses how the conflict in the Persian Gulf has already affected global oil and gas markets and what risks this creates for Europe. While the EU has reduced its dependence on Russia and diversified supply sources in recent years, rising prices, increasing competition with Asian countries, and uncertainty over the course of the conflict remain key challenges. Read more: gssc.lt/publikacija/ir…

The Geopolitics and Security Studies Center hosted a discussion “On the Eve of the NATO Ankara Meeting” with Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas, Director General of the NATO International Military Staff, and Reserve Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas. We’re sharing some moments from the event: gssc.lt/en/event/a-con…

H.E. President @Grybauskaite_LT joins the conference “Shared Values, Shared Security: The Nordic–Baltic Partnership at 35 and the Path Forward.” A globally respected voice on European security and leadership, she will share her insights on the future of Nordic–Baltic cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. 📍Vilnius | 📅 April 9, 2026More info and registration here: norden.lt/en/event/share… The event marks the 35th anniversary of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania🤝 The event is organised together with the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania. Official broadcaster – @LRTenglish

Security today means more than defence – it also includes economic resilience, technology, and the ability to withstand pressure. On Wednesday, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, together with the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, hosted the discussion “Lithuania–Japan Dialogue on Security and Economic Resilience”. The event brought together experts from Lithuania and Japan to discuss shared security and resilience challenges. The discussions focused primarily on economic pressure and responses to it, as well as the links between security in the Indo-Pacific and in Europe. The event featured two panel discussions: “Economic Hardball: Who Takes The Hit? Responding To Economic Coercion” and “Across Two Oceans: Shared Security Challenges. The Indivisibility of the Indo-Pacific and Europe and Security Challenges”. One key message stood out: economic security, resilient supply networks, access to critical raw materials, and partners’ ability to act in unity are becoming an integral part of broader security policy. Read more in the comments gssc.lt/en/event/discu…

Putin is preparing a “legal” framework that would give him a supposed basis to attack Narva, Daugavpils, or even Vilnius. This was stated by the prominent Russian opposition figure Garry Kasparov in a video published on the Free Russia Forum’s YouTube channel. To read where Kasparov sees the threat and how realistic it actually is, see the latest publication by GSSC Senior Policy Analyst @vlaucius, “Kasparov: Putin could attack Narva or Daugavpils as early as this year.” gssc.lt/publikacija/ka…

“Central and Eastern Europe is becoming a sensitive arena where the geopolitical interests of China and Taiwan intersect.” In the publication “China and Taiwan Competition in Central and Eastern Europe: Foreign Policy Shifts and Implementation Limits (2019–2025)”, @RaigirdasBoruta, Associate Expert at GSSC, analyses how the pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and broader geopolitical shifts have reshaped the region’s relations with Beijing and Taipei. Why is this competition intensifying in the region? What role has Lithuania played in it? And what implications does it have for Europe’s geopolitical landscape? Read more 👉 gssc.lt/en/publication…

While in Vilnius, I shared Moldova’s story of reforms, resilience, and our path to the EU with @GSSC_LT community. Thank you for having me — and for your interest in Moldova.

@kasrpg @Leskevicius @SnkeNeitzel gssc.lt/en/event/what-…

NATO’s eastern flank is no longer Europe’s geopolitical periphery - it is becoming its central line of defence. At a discussion hosted by the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center with the @kasrpg in Lithuania, Bundeswehr expert Sönke Neitzel highlighted key challenges in Germany’s defence transformation: • €100B defence fund; • debate on recruitment; • German brigade in Lithuania by 2027; • stronger Nordic-Baltic cooperation. 👉 More in comments

At the @MunSecConf held on February 13-14, GSSC organized two side events, dedicated to addressing the most pressing international security challenges and exploring possible solutions. On February 13, at an event held with partners from Latvia’s @LIIA_LV, discussions focused on geopolitical linkages and differences between Europe, our region, and Taiwan, examining shared threat trends and the evolution of the security environment. On February 14, during a side event organized with partners from the Netherlands’ @Clingendaelor, participants discussed the hybrid threats currently facing Europe, particularly NATO’s eastern flank. Read more: gssc.lt/en/event/the-g…

The Geopolitics and Security Studies Center hosted a discussion titled “Beyond Documenting War Crimes: The Mission of the Ukraine War Archive.” The event was attended by Maksym Demydenko, a co-Founder and Executive Director of the @UaWarArchive. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Juljan Jachovič, Chief Project Officer (CPO) at GSSC. During the event, the work of the Ukraine War Archive was introduced, including its approaches to information collection, organisation, and analysis, and how these methods are used in research and humanitarian contexts. gssc.lt/en/event/discu…

During the Lithuania–Denmark Business and Science Forum on Europe’s future, held as part of King Frederik X of Denmark’s visit to Lithuania, the discussion moved beyond theory to focus on concrete issues. The panel “Security and Opportunity: Europe’s Next Frontier” was moderated by @LinasKojala CEO of the @GSSC_LT, and featured @GriksasEdvinas, @KubiliusA, @robertas_kaunas, and @JFinkielman. The discussion addressed the state of Europe’s and Lithuania’s defence industries, the main obstacles to their development, and the gap between strategic ambitions and real-world implementation. Particular attention was given to Lithuania’s defence priorities, lessons learned from Ukraine’s war, responses to hybrid threats, and practical solutions that could strengthen Europe’s defence industry in the near term.

Revenue from Russian fossil fuel exports continues to decline, significantly impacting cash flow. While the regime is not on the verge of collapse solely due to this factor, the implications are practical and important.

Moldova has made notable progress in its relations with the European Union (EU). In just three years, from 2022 to 2025, the EU’s smallest eastern neighbour advanced from being an associated partner to a candidate country ready to begin accession negotiations. But can EU accession move forward while the Transnistrian conflict remains unresolved? In his latest analysis, @DionisCenusa, Associated Expert at the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, examines whether Moldova’s EU path could co-opt Transnistria-or bypass reintegration altogether-drawing lessons from the Cyprus precedent. 👉gssc.lt/en/publication…

GSSC hosted a conversation with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister @HakanFidan, moderated by GSSC Director @LinasKojala. We discussed Europe’s security, Greenland, EU cooperation with Turkey/UK/Norway, the Israel–Palestine conflict, unrest in Iran, and energy security. Read more: gssc.lt/en/event/discu…

Security is becoming the defining question of our time.🛡️ Following the Snow Meeting in Vilnius, GSSC hosted a conversation with Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, moderated by GSSC Director Linas Kojala. We discussed Estonia’s 2026 priorities, NATO and hybrid threats, Ukraine, security guarantees, transatlantic challenges, and the Greenland debate. gssc.lt/en/event/conve…

“Russia is at war with the West. Full stop. They have been for a long time.” - William Alberque In the latest Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Vol. 44 (2026), William Alberque argues that Russia and China are gaming the non-proliferation system and that the West must stop treating arms control and “hybrid war” naively and learn to use rules, institutions and partnerships to penalise adversaries and strengthen allies. 🔗 Read more: gssc.lt/en/publication…