Lithuanian cabinet approves strategy for citizens' preparation for civil resistance

  • 2022-01-26
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – The Lithuanian government approved on Wednesday a strategy for citizens' preparation for civil resistance to increase their resilience to external threats and ensure that they are properly prepared in the event of a military conflict.

According to Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, the main objective of the strategy is "to build citizens' resilience to prevent a potential aggressor, for example, from carrying out the information attacks, cyber-attacks that it needs".

The strategy, drafted by the Defense Ministry, has yet to be approved by the parliament.

The document sets out four objectives: to strengthen the resilience of society, to strengthen the civic will of society, and to build knowledge and skills for both unarmed and armed resistance.

"This is a conceptual framework that lays out the guidelines, and concrete measures are a separate issue," the minister said.

He noted that the strategy places a great deal of focus on the Riflemen's Union, a civilian paramilitary organization.   

Anusauskas said it was a coincidence that the strategy was submitted to the government for approval at a time of mounting tensions in the region. 

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops and military hardware near its border with Ukraine, making the West increasingly concerned about a major military conflict in Europe.

Moreover, Moscow has recently been moving its troops to Belarus near the EU border for joint military drills. 

Amid mounting tensions over Russia's military buildup, NATO allies announced on Monday that they were putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to beef up the defense of the Alliance's eastern flank.