31 WHITE 4. STRENGTHENING NATIONAL DEFENCE CAPABILITIES 4.1. Lithuanian Armed Forces: A new approach towards defence In planning national defence, time is a factor of utmost importance. Russian permanent readiness military units can be used nearly without any early warning period under the guise of snap exercises of the Russian Armed Forces. In case of regional conflict, conventional military, covert military and/or non-military means could be used in combination, and at the same time, with the ability to deny responsibility for using them. Aggressive actions can also start as a local military incident or provocation and then escalate into a higher intensity military conflict. In response to the changing nature of the threats, Lithuania has adopted a new defence concept. In the current security environment, the LAF have to be prepared to react immediately to any possible armed incidents even in peacetime and to transform from a peacetime to wartime structure without delay. As a result, significant changes in LAF structure as well as in its readiness, manning, training and equipping are being made. Lithuanian Rapid Response Force: the main facts RRF is composed of two Land Force’s battalion groups with elements of Air Force, Navy, Special Operations Forces and other support units – 2500 troops in total. Readiness time – 2-24 h. Since 2015 annual national exercise “Thunderbolt strike” is organised with the purpose to exercise RRF as well as military-civil coordination in hybrid scenarios. Rapid Response Force. In 2014, Lithuania established a national Rapid Response Force (RRF) whose task is to react to local armed incidents or border violations during peacetime, such as actions of irregular armed groups, illegal border crossing, violation of military transit procedures, etc. The very high readiness state of the RRF means that the highest priority is given to manning, training, equipping and supplying these military units. Being always at a high alert standby status, the RRF would also be the first responder in case of a conventional conflict. Reform of the LAF structure. The peacetime structure of the LAF is being expanded by standing up the motorised infantry brigade “Žemaitija”. Use of military force in the „grey“ zone: legal aspect Decision to use the Armed Forces to respond to local armed incidents and border violations, which do not constitute acts of aggression, is made by the President of Lithuania. The area in which LAF is conducting military operation, acquires the status of military territory. The military leads operation in these territories. The rules of engagement are defined by the Minister of National Defence in line with the task and duration of the operation stated in the decree of the President. PA P E R