The year 2021 is marked by the continued rise of China, unprecedented Russian military activities close to NATO borders and the weaponization of illegal migrants by Belarus, coupled with the continued COVID-19 pandemic and the international community’s attempts to address climate change. Indeed, the contemporary security environment is shaped by strategic competition, complex security threats, and struggles over power and technology.
China demonstrates its growing ambition not only in the area of global economics, but also in the military domain. It increases political and economic power and advances military modernization, including the fast development of its nuclear arsenal and missile systems. China is investing in critical infrastructure across Europe and beyond, increasing supply chain dependency. Benefitting from technological development, it’s making progress with 5G network technology. Our technological dependence on China in the future might have severe implications on our security.
Lithuania’s defense minister: How to tackle threats bleeding into the new year (defensenews.com)
