At the NATO-India Youth Conference, Lithuanian Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė delivered the keynote address, highlighting the growing importance of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in ensuring security in Europe and beyond.
The conference, co-hosted by Geostrata and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, brought together young leaders and experts to discuss global security challenges, transatlantic cooperation, and the future of the Alliance.
In her address, Ambassador Mickevičienė emphasized NATO’s crucial role in safeguarding the security of Lithuania and the wider Euro-Atlantic region. She described NATO as the world’s strongest military alliance and noted that it has become even more robust following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ambassador highlighted several developments that have strengthened the Alliance, including the accession of Sweden and Finland, the upgrading of defence plans, and increased defence spending by NATO members. She also pointed to NATO’s focus on defence innovation through initiatives such as Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which supports advanced dual-use technologies.
Mickevičienė stressed that a strong and united NATO remains essential to address emerging global threats, reaffirming Lithuania’s commitment to strengthening the Alliance alongside its partners.
She also noted the growing interconnection between the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, highlighting opportunities for deeper cooperation between NATO and India as democratic anchors in their respective regions.