The event, held under the Finnish and Åland co-presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, brought together Maria Stockhaus, Vice-President of the Nordic Council; Annukka Ylivaara, Assistant Secretary General of the Security Committee in Finland; Sigitas Mitkus, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania; and Ann-Sofie Stude, Head of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Moderated by Linas Kojala of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, the panel, titled „Stronger Together: Trust and Resilience as Pillars of a Secure Nordic-Baltic Future,” explored how nations can better prepare for crises and reinforce social cohesion.
Trust: The Cornerstone of Resilience
Trust is often referred to as the „gold” of Nordic societies – an asset that binds communities together and facilitates cooperation across government, business, and civil society. Yet, as the world grapples with disinformation, polarization, and shifting geopolitical realities, maintaining and strengthening trust has become more challenging than ever. Public institutions must work actively to foster transparency. Education, media literacy, and responsible leadership play vital roles in ensuring misinformation does not undermine democracy or social cohesion.
In Lithuania, however, trust remains a significant challenge. A recent study by Vilnius University, „Is Lithuanian Society Ready to Act in a Crisis?”, revealed that communities are the weakest link in national resilience. Only 26% of respondents believed that community members trust one another, while 52% had no opinion. Experts suggest that strengthening neighborhood initiatives, increasing citizen participation in emergency preparedness, and improving government-citizen dialogue could help bridge this trust gap.
Inclusive Approach to Crisis Preparedness and Coordination
The past few years have been a relentless stress test for resilience – COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, economic instability, and climate-related disasters have exposed vulnerabilities. One key takeaway is that crisis preparedness cannot be an isolated effort confined to specific institutions; it requires a whole-of-society approach.
A crucial element of this is coordination. Nations must ensure robust cross-border and inter-agency cooperation before a crisis unfolds. Pre-established frameworks, such as those developed within the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers, can improve response times.
Individual preparedness is crucial. For example, Finland has introduced the 72-hour readiness initiative, which emphasizes that households should be able to cope independently for at least three days in case of a disruption. This includes storing at least three days’ worth of food, water, and medicine. However, Lithuania still has work to do. A study found that 70% of Lithuanians lack emergency supplies, and only 9% understand their role in national defense. On a positive note, 70% are eager to learn more, and 46% are open to training. Lithuania’s relatively new initiative, LT72, which includes a website and app, allows residents to learn how to be prepared for an accident, how to behave in the event of an emergency, how to receive the information needed during emergencies and other threats.
