Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

The purpose of this investigation was to empirically assess the association between military expenditure and income inequality in the 19 European member states of NATO between 2011 and 2022. To achieve this, the authors carried out multivariate statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier life tables and survival estimation techniques. The results highlighted a trend in the countries analysed that income inequality tended to decrease when investment in the military increased during the period under consideration. The association manifested itself in the shortest time in the group of countries with the lowest military spending per capita, while emerging in the longer term in the countries with the highest. Furthermore, under high threat of war, the association tends to be shortest in relative terms in countries with the lowest military expenditure per capita. The results also revealed that the association between military spending and income inequality is more pronounced in the smallest countries by population and those with the lowest military expenditure per capita. The authors believe that this investigation will enrich scientific knowledge with new insights.

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama Lietuvos kariuomenės raida nuo 1994 iki 2004 m., t. y. Lietuvos pasirengimo narystei Šiaurės Atlanto gynybiniame aljanse laikotarpiu.1994–2004 m. Lietuvos krašto apsaugos sistema ir Lietuvos kariuomenė siekė užtikrinti valstybės gynybą, todėl turėjo įgyvendinti du labai sudėtingus uždavinius – kurti ir plėtoti nacionalines karines pajėgas ir kartu parengti jas narystei NATO. Šie uždaviniai buvo grindžiami dviem skirtingomis paradigmomis – modernios ir postmodernios kariuomenės, kas lėmė staigias Lietuvos kariuomenės transformacijas ir jų vertinimo prieštaringumą. Tačiau, nors buvo daugybė sunkumų ir sudėtinga situacija šalyje, Lietuvos kariuomenė per dešimt metų sugebėjo sukurti valstybės karinius pajėgumus, kurie atitiko NATO partnerėms keliamus reikalavimus, ir kartu įvykdė jai iškeltą prioritetinę Lietuvos Respublikos nacionalinio saugumo ir gynybos politikos užduotį – Lietuva tapo Šiaurės Atlanto aljanso nare.

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas atkurtos Lietuvos Respublikos krašto apsaugos sistemos ginklų ir karo technikos įsigijimo 1990–2004 m. procesas, išskirti jo etapai, juos apibrėžiantys politiniai ir ekonominiai veiksniai, kilusios problemos, iššūkiai ir ypatumai. Tyrinėjama, kiek ir kokių ginklų būta Lietuvoje atkūrus nepriklausomybę ir kokią galimybę jais disponuoti turėjo atsikurianti Lietuvos Respublikos krašto apsauga, iš kokių šaltinių ir kokiu būdu jų buvo įsigyjama.

The article is devoted to study of information security as a challenge of modern development of information and computer technologies. It was found that achievement of a satisfactory level of information security, which is a state of safety of balanced important interests of an individual, society and state against internal and external threats in the information sphere, is possible based on economic, organizational, technical, legal, psychological and other methods. Existing threats to the information security in Ukraine have been identified. The concept and essence of hybrid war as one of the threats to protection of information interests of an individual, society and the state are considered separately. A conclusion was made about the expediency of supplementing the Information Security Doctrine of Ukraine with such a threat as a hybrid war, which actually takes place in the east of the country. A system of information security components in Ukraine has been disclosed, among which a particular attention has been paid to the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the State Agency for Electronic Governance of Ukraine. In order to improve the mechanism of protection of the information space of Ukraine, it is proposed to differentiate at the legislative level the concepts of “information security” and “cybersecurity”, since their understanding is the basis for the formulation and implementation of the state information policy, improve international cooperation between states to exchange experience, as well as to involve general public to protect the information space.

Romania’s membership of NATO and the European Union has many advantages, but also risks for each of them. Romania continues to strengthen its position and role within NATO and the EU. Romania has shown that it is a loyal and credible partner in its relationship with all international organizations. Romania’s strategic documents with NATO and the EU are well structured and clear. These include mission, vision, strategic objectives and ways of cooperating with each other, as well as the financial, material, human and informational resources needed to implement them. The objective of our research was to identify the main threats, risks and vulnerabilities of Romania as a NATO member state. The analysis has led to the discovery of new ways of reducing risks and threats, as well as solving the major vulnerabilities of Romania. The research is based on the National Defense Strategy, the Romanian Armed Forces Endowment Plan for the period 2019-2028 and other strategic documents underpinning the development of the cooperation between Romania and NATO. Within the analysis process the main threats, risks and vulnerabilities of Romania in relation to NATO were identified. Based on the analysis carried out, several ways of action are proposed through which Romania can strengthen its defense and security capabilities. The results of the research are relevant both theoretically and practically because they show the major changes that Romania has made after entering NATO and the exceptional performances achieved both in the development of the defense and security capability and in fulfilling the commitments assumed by Romania with NATO and other organizations it belongs to.