For the second year in a row, the Defending Baltics international security and defence conference in Vilnius brought together more than 500 participants – military personnel, national security officials, defence-industry specialists, academics, journalists, and NGO experts from across the Baltics, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, the UK, and the US. The event once again provided an invaluable platform for the security community to exchange insights and discuss lessons learned from Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
One of the topics highlighted throughout the conference was Russia’s ability to adapt on the battlefield. Despite lagging technologically behind the West, Russia continues to rely on cheap, rapidly deployable solutions such as drones, glide bombs, and weaponry sourced from North Korea. These tools enable Moscow to sustain a long, grinding war – a strategy it has both the resources and the political will to maintain.
However, a potential NATO–Russia conflict would look very different from the war in Ukraine. NATO allies possess far stronger intelligence and deep-strike capabilities, giving them the means to neutralize Russia’s A2/AD “bubbles” in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg. This would improve logistics and allow allied forces to reinforce the region not only by sea but also, to some extent, by land and air. For this reason, experts stressed that drones should complement, rather than replace, NATO’s advanced reconnaissance and long-range strike systems.
For the Baltic states, Ukraine’s experience also offers critical lessons. Building affordable intelligence and deep-strike capabilities, including drones that can hit targets up to 300 km away, could provide a meaningful deterrent. Such a capability cannot be limited to simply owning drones; it must operate as a full system of systems, integrated into training, interoperability, and rapid adaptation processes.
Another key point of discussion was the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, which remains the most realistic route for NATO reinforcements during a crisis. Russia has been conducting hybrid operations in this region for years, attempting to shape conditions to its advantage. As several speakers noted, an effective Western response must combine military, political, and infrastructural measures within both NATO and the EU.
Finally, the conference underscored the importance of close cooperation between the armed forces and the defence industry. Relying solely on off-the-shelf procurement strains supply chains and slows adaptation. Instead, ongoing technical cooperation, where manufacturers respond to clearly defined operational needs, is essential to ensuring that Baltic and allied forces can maintain an advantage on the battlefield.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s conference: the attendees, speakers, moderators, volunteers, and, of course, our sponsors. Thank you for helping create an environment of open dialogue, critical thinking, and genuine cooperation.
The international conference was organized by the Civic Resilience Initiative, Locked N' Loaded, and partners, including the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, the European Commission, FNF Baltic States, and the Embassy of Norway in Lithuania.
Media partner: Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)
