88 N A T I O N A L S E C U R I T Y S T R A T E G Y where it proves impossible to avoid them – at being ready to appropriately counter them using all measures and methods available to the State. 18. Priorities of the national security policy of the Republic of Lithuania and long-term and medium-term objectives are as follows: 18.1. strengthening of national defence capabilities. The foundation of defence of the Republic of Lithuania is the ability of the Lithuanian Armed Forces together with its allies to ensure credible deterrence, and in the case of failure to deter – to defend the Republic of Lithuania individually and together with allies. The Lithuanian Armed Forces must also be ready to fulfil the country’s international obligations. The Republic of Lithuania will: 18.1.1. consistently increase funding of national defence, so that at least two percent of the country’s GDP would be allocated in 2018 at the latest, while ensuring steady increase further on; 18.1.2. strengthen the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces, paying particular attention to land force combat capabilities, air surveillance and defence capabilities, fire support capabilities, storing stockpiles and ammunition; 18.1.3. man the Lithuanian Armed Forces using the mixed model of professional military servicemen, conscripts and national defence volunteers, and evaluate the possibilities of transition to the model of universal military service; 18.1.4. enlarge and strengthen the prepared reserve of military personnel so that it is sufficient, properly trained and equipped to meet needs of national defence; seek to maintain their defence and security competences; 18.1.5. maintain high readiness units of LAF intended for rapid response both to conventional military threats and local armed incidents and border violations which, by their very nature, are not equivalent to acts of aggression; 18.1.6. develop a mobilisation system, meeting the needs of an individual and collective defence as well as the host nation support capabilities and infrastructure which would enable a prompt and smooth deployment of Allied forces in the Republic of Lithuania and their actions in the territory of the country; 18.1.7. enhance the combat readiness of units of the institutions comprising the war time armed forces and the interoperability of institutions comprising the war time armed forces and other institutions responsible for public security with the Lithuanian Armed Forces; 18.2. enhancement of NATO collective defence. Strong and united NATO, capable of ensuring the security and defence of its member states, is the key security guarantee of the Republic of Lithuania. The Republic of Lithuania will: 18.2.1. contribute to strengthening of NATO collective defence capabilities, paying particular attention to the NATO Response Force, support development and regular review of the defence plans of NATO; 18.2.2. participate in strengthening NATO’s preparedness to counter hybrid threats, contribute to the development of NATO’s capabilities aimed at meeting the challenges in the areas of energy security, cyber defence and strategic communications; 18.2.3. strengthen NATO’s deterrence policy based on conventional and nuclear capabilities; 18.2.4. promote and support NATO’s decisions concerning long-term and substantial NATO