Proceedings of the International Teaching and Education Conference
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Distinct Security Challenges of the Baltic Region in the Context of NATO’s Strategic Concept
Kristīne Kuzņecova, and Romāns Gagunovs
ABSTRACT:
Military security, as a fundamental component of national security, refers to a state’s ability to safeguard its citizens and national interests from internal and external threats. In today’s world, characterised by complex threats, hybrid warfare, and military operations by individual nations, the security landscape is becoming increasingly intricate. This dynamic particularly impacts the Baltic Region and Europe, both collectively, through diverse challenges. The authors recognise NATO’s pivotal role in mitigating threats, alongside the development of national armed forces and societal involvement, as crucial to national defence. However, they also identify that certain aspects and procedures relating to the security of the Baltic Region within the NATO framework require further updates and enhancements. A particularly urgent issue is the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on the battlefield and the necessary countermeasures against the security risks they pose. UAV-related incidents are on the rise. Recent security breaches in Latvia, Poland, and Romania, where Russian military UAVs violated the airspace of NATO member states, highlight delays and inadequacies in the communication and response of responsible institutions. The Baltic Region must commit to significantly bolstering the eastern border with enhanced air defences and strengthening national security overall. A clear vision for national security policy and defence is required, alongside a coherent strategy for effectively addressing the security threats posed by UAV’s.
keywords: national security, military security, threats, society, war