KEY TAKE-OUTS AND VIDEOS
GIEDRIMAS JEGLINSKAS | Belgium | NATO Assistant General Secretary
On Tuesday, May 26, we invited GLL members & friends working in the field of security worldwide to share their knowledge about a shadow behind our screens that is not visible but even more active since the start of pandemic. The panelists represented the variety of angles to study security and develop sustainable resilience.
Geopolitical discussion on security has a few angles: from NATO, EU and Lithuanian point of view.
The major shifts of social and political developments took place thirty years ago with the fall of Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union which brought the new players in the global economy and the challenges as well as achievements of diversification of supply chains and global integration.
It was interrupted and recharged by the global collapse of economies in 2008 – 2009 which encouraged and brought about the digital age with the new term of big data collected and managed beyond geographical limits and borders.
Pandemic caused by Covid 19 came as a vivid illustration of globalisation and dependability and reached the level beyond common understanding. It raised new challenges, questioned the role of political institutions – NATO, UN, EU – and gave grounds for populistic politics drawing towards closure and autocracy. It also emphasised the differences between small and big players in the politics where the former need integration to be heard and have a platform for equal rights of expression while the latter compete for dominance and power.
US, EU, and China are top three competing super powers on the ring. The US is supported by its strong Federal Reserve and monetisation of debt allowed by active consumers as well as strong military reputation. The EU in the contrary lacks policies of mutual debt and euro alignment among the members to compete on equal grounds. Chinas role is defined by the relations with the US and future of production demand from large global consumers.
As for Lithuania, it will have to adapt to a different world with harsh power competition where small players get easily hit.
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Security is the top priority for investment – both military and cyber.
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Comprehensive organisations of value-based allies is the way to survive and have a stronger position.
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Structured investment and development of technologies and skills shall be political priority.