ABSTRACT
There is general agreement that Lithuania has recently been enjoying an unprecedented level of security. This feeling of security is shared by many and it was created by Euro-Atlantic integration. A debate about Lithuania's role in Iraq started when it became clear that the opinions of different North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU) members regarding this crisis had irreconcilable differences. The willingness to contribute to the European Rapid Reaction Force may suggest that the country fully endorses the development of the Common European Defense and Security Policy (ESDP). Lithuania's contributions to transatlantic security fall into three broad categories: First, participation in international missions run by NATO, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), second, developing useful niche capabilities within its military, and finally, regional cooperation initiatives. The future development of the European Union and Russia will affect the ways in which Lithuania solves its "dual loyalty" dilemma in the future.
