On June 6, 2016 the Atlantic Council hosted a public conference on Sustaining NATO’s Strength and Deterrence. The event took place in Vilnius, Lithuania and served as the Council’s major public event in the Baltic region one month ahead of NATO’s seminal 2016 Warsaw Summit. The discussions featured a keynote address by Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, Commanding General of US Army Europe, as well as remarks by Lithuania’s Minister of National Defense, H.E. Juozas Olekas, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Linas Linkevičius. The event convened key regional and US leaders, military officials, and senior experts for a high-level discussion on the strategic issues facing NATO’s eastern flank.

A conversation with:Ben Hodges
Commanding General 
US Army Europe 

Juozas Olekas
Minister of National Defense 
Republic of Lithuania 

Margarita Šešelgytė​
Studies Director, Institute of International Relations and Political Science
Vilnius University

Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President, Programs and Strategy 
Atlantic Council; 
Former Senior Director, European Affairs 
National Security Council

Barry Pavel
Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, and Director, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security 
Atlantic Council; 
Former Senior Director, Defense Policy and Strategy 
National Security Council

Please join the Atlantic Council and the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania at our upcoming public conference on “Sustaining NATO’s Strength and Deterrence.” The conference will take place on Monday, June 6, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square (Universiteto 14, 01122 Vilnius, Lithuania). A networking lunch will follow from 12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

The discussions will feature a keynote address by Ben Hodges, Commanding General of US Army Europe, and opening remarks by Lithuania’s Minister of National Defense, Juozas Olekas.  

The conference will convene key regional and US officials, military leaders, and senior experts for a high-level discussion on the strategic issues facing NATO’s eastern flank, one month before its seminal 2016 Warsaw Summit. 

The Baltic region has become a potential flashpoint between NATO and Russia. Russia has ratcheted up tensions in the region through large-scale military exercises, dramatic air and sea encounters, and the development of a potent anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) network. Establishing new approaches and strategies to sustain NATO’s strength and presence in the region will be a key priority for the Alliance. This conference will contribute directly to the discussions in the Alliance as it prepares for its Warsaw Summit. 

If you have any questions or wish to RSVP, please contact Monika Korolioviene at the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania at Monika.Korolioviene@kam.lt

We hope that you will be able to join us for this important event. Thank you very much, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

On Twitter? Follow @ACScowcroft and @Lithuanian_MoD and use #FutureNATO to join the conversation!

Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square
Universiteto 14
01122 Vilnius, Lithuania

This event is open to press and on the record.

Note: For security reasons, we kindly ask guests to arrive ahead of time. All attendees may be asked to provide a photo ID prior to entry.