Who will secure #Lithuania?

The term "security" is a very multifaceted one. But today's geopolitical situation in Lithuania forces us to think about its military aspect above all, writes Adomas Abromaitis.

Our attention is completely absorbed by news about wars, conflicts, military exercises and increasing defence capabilities. An average European reader has no chance to skip this kind of news while looking through news feeds of the popular media.

Even planned further militarization of the European region and Russia poses a real threat today. A whole generation of European children is growing in the firm belief that war is approaching. We destroy ourselves with our fears. We notice everything concerning military issues and neglect economic and social sides of our life. We live in a changed world and we are to blame for it.

Let's take Lithuania as an example. This small country, with history and with immensely kind and open people has during the past few weeks fallen into the centre of the world's attention, mainly in connection with military affairs: rotational US Army troops' arrival, participating in NATO drills, United States F-22 Raptor stealth aircrafts landing in Lithuania at Šiauliai Airbase and so on.

One can conclude that the only serious problem of Lithuania' s security is its weak national defence capabilities. This opinion is purposely formed by national media and by international journalists, with the government actively supporting shaping such public views by giving interviews and showing off military vehicles, aircraft and equipment.

Few people think about the purposes of such a PR campaign. This one-sided approach to the security of the state raises questions. Attracting attention to the military aspect of security will not help the authorities to secure the country. Hungry and angry people may become a force that can turn everything upside down. There are many problems concerning Lithuania's security in energy, economic and demographic spheres today that are not among the government's priorities. Unfortunately, during the pre-election period, the authorities did their best to divert the attention of people from social problems to more "global" ones. They successfully exploited the Motherland's defenders image, instead of reporting on the domestic policy in which they have not succeeded.

The failures in domestic policy are more than obvious. According to the statistics, Lithuania today is one of the poorest nations in the EU. A catastrophic situation is in the field of education. Lithuanian teachers' low salaries have even made them go on strike. The situation in Lithuanian retail centres, in which a litre of milk costs less than a litre of water is absolutely absurd! The minimum wage in Lithuania is only €350 per month. That is the lowest level among the Baltic States. Lithuanian trade unions stage protest actions to demand better working conditions.

According to statistics, the youth unemployment rate in Lithuania in March was 14.10%. Young people continue to leave Lithuania in search of a better life.

At the same time, the government is ready to welcome about 1000 NATO troops. On one hand there is nothing bad in additional military aid. On the other - the country doesn't have spare money for accommodating foreign soldiers. Such steps pose a serious financial burden on a host nation. Do citizens really can afford maintaining the foreign army under shortfalls of means to cover their own living expenses?

The deterioration of living conditions is particularly evident among ordinary citizens. Public revolt against food price increases in Lithuania during the past few days is an indicator of growing dissatisfaction with the domestic policy of the Lithuanian authorities, who act as if nothing has happened and try not to notice the social thunderstorm approaching.

It may happen that a social explosion will occur earlier, in expectation of a Russian attack. Lithuanians need not only to feel military security, but also confidence in the future, in food and demographic security. They should trust the government and be sure that the authorities are thinking about them. Only in this case will Lithuanians be active during election campaigns and respect their parliament and leaders.

It is unclear who will secure Lithuania's future, but it is obviously not those people who are obliged to do it.

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