Government Chancellor meets with French defence, security, and crisis management officials
Continuing her working visit to France, Chancellor of the Government, Giedrė Balčytytė, proceeded with meetings, including with General Vincent Cousin, the French Under-Secretary-General for Defence and National Security, and with Stéphane Romattet, Director of the Crisis and Support Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Tuesday, the Chancellor also had a meeting with Gilles de Margerie, the Commissioner General of France Stratégie, which serves as the strategic advisory centre for the French Government.
The meetings with French officials responsible for defence, national security, and crisis management centred around exchanging national experience in crisis management, combating disinformation, as well as addressing cyber and hybrid threats.
‘Cooperation between democratic partners and the exchange of best practices gain utmost importance in the face of authoritarian regimes’ attempts to extensively employ disinformation, weaponize migration, or other fields’, stated Government Chancellor Balčytytė.
According to the Chancellor, Lithuania has been fighting disinformation and propaganda for many years and not only in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Lithuania’s long-standing experience in building up the public resistance to disinformation can prove valuable in highlighting the need for sanctions against Russia at the global level.
French officials have been informed about the misuse of content moderation rules by Facebook and other social networks, resulting in the blocking of pro-Ukrainian comments and profiles, which has had a considerable impact in Lithuania. The Chancellor emphasized the need to enhance cooperation to raise these concerns more assertively among peer nations and within the European Union, noting in particular the strengthening of resistance to disinformation spread by Russia through various channels, not only in Europe, but also in Africa, Latin America, the Western Balkans, other regions affected by Kremlin propaganda, and in countries such as Moldova, which are asking for help in their own hybrid war.
During her meeting with the Crisis and Support Centre management, Giedrė Balčytytė addressed the issues of hybrid threats, natural disasters, and pandemics, all of which have a wide-ranging impact across various sectors. She emphasized the importance of establishing well-informed and timely data-driven models and frameworks for crisis preparedness.
The Government Chancellor spoke about the National Crisis Management Centre in Lithuania, highlighting its significant contribution to enhancing the country’s multidimensional and cross-sectoral capacities for crisis prevention and management. French officials also shared their institutional experience in crisis and emergency prevention and management, fostering an exchange of knowledge between the two nations.
The discussions encompassed the extensive capabilities of the French Crisis and Support Centre in delivering humanitarian aid during disasters and providing assistance to French citizens in emergency situations. These capabilities hold great significance, leveraging France’s well-established network of diplomatic missions, robust economic and cultural ties, and large citizen communities.
Giedrė Balčytytė thanked the Director of the Crisis and Support Centre at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their invaluable assistance in repatriating Lithuanian citizens amidst the COVID-19 pandemic-induced closure of borders and airports. This commendable collaboration stands as a prime example of bilateral cooperation.
It was agreed to establish collaborative relations between the National Crisis Management Centre and their French counterparts. The aim is to ensure the seamless exchange of pertinent information, harmonized actions during critical situations, and the optimal utilization of France and Lithuania’s respective capabilities in diverse locations.