START researcher Egle Murauskaite recently co-organized and served on an expert panel during an event designed to promote quality discourse on international topics of significance to Lithuania. Hosted by the Global Lithuanian Leaders' (GLL) network and the Trinity business law firm, "Security in the Era of Transformations: The State and You” focused on the broader concept of security and state resilience in the face of a crisis.
During the panel, Murauskaite discussed findings from the recent ICONS simulation "Gray Zone Crises in Eastern Europe," which she designed and managed.
“Tying socio-economic issues to threats and resilience is a new way of talking about security in the Baltics, thus the insights from the simulation resonated well among the panel and audience,” Murauskaite said. “There was a recognized need to raise security culture and awareness in the country, and to stress the nuances of local dynamics with NATO partners.”
Unclassified simulations are relatively new in the Baltics, and were discussed in detail in subsequent media interviews. The high-level online policy simulation in question explored gray zone crises in Latvia and Lithuania in November 2016, and involved around 40 former and current government officials, ambassadors, generals and think-tank directors from Europe and the United States (with an additional 80 observers). Murauskaite also discussed an ongoing ICONS, University of Maryland and University of California, San Diego study on cross-domain deterrence. She highlighted the importance of signaling NATO unity by demonstrating closer cooperation among member states in gray zone crises.
The panel also noted the progress Lithuania has made over the past year, from broad laudable efforts in countering propaganda, to progressive institutional initiatives, such as manuals for the public on crisis preparedness and a hotline to report potential threats to national security.
Comprised of all women, the panel featured Murauskaite, Dr. Margarita Seselgyte (Vilnius University), Aurelija Katkuviene (State Security Department) and Luka Lesauskaite (Ministry of Defense), and was moderated by Linas Sabaliauskas (Trinity).
The event was broadcast live over Lithuanian national television (LRT), and received considerable attention in the news media. Murauskaite was interviewed by LRT and other news outlets. She also participated in a high level roundtable discussion on the implications of socio-economic challenges to national security. Other participants included Vytautas Bakas (Chairman of the National Parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense (NSKG)), Dr. Arvydas Anusauskas (former Chairman and currently member of NSKG), and Lina Antanaviciene (President's adviser on social security issues).
A selection of news clips is available below:
- Panel discussion
- Labas rytas, Lietuva (on GLL event, begins at 41:30)
- 15 minutes Lithuania
- Labas rytas, Lietuva (on ICONS crisis simulations)
- LRT Radio Panel