Estonia will have to borrow more to raise defence spending above 5% of GDP, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Tsahkna said that Estonia would try to obtain as much financing as possible under the EU’s SAFE instrument. The Finance Ministry is now analysing how much SAFE funding…
Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, will hold a ceremony on 3 April 2025 to honour four US soldiers who died during a military exercise at the Pabrade training area in eastern Lithuania, BNS reports. The ceremonial cortege will proceed through the city centre and will be met by Archbishop Gintaras Grusas, President Gitanas Nauseda, Defence Minister Dovile…
Latvia’s relations with the US are deep and positive, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze assured, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with LTV, Braze noted said that US President Donald Trump’s administration appreciated Latvia for being a good ally and for not engaging in public “loud rhetoric.” Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met…
Estonia’s annual inflation may reach 6% or higher in 2025, driven by the rise in energy and food prices, local analysts forecast, ERR reports. Triinu Tapver, analyst at LHV Pank, said that inflation could amount to as much as 6.2-6.5% in 2025, which would be up sharply from the bank’s earlier estimate of 4.5% at…
The Lithuanian fertiliser producer, Achema, may begin producing explosives, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas announced, BNS reports. He was speaking after a meeting with representatives of Achema’s management. Earlier, Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), suggested converting some of the country’s large chemical plants to the production of explosives. Achema announced…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has proposed amendments to simplify the procedure to initiate public referendums, LETA reports. He proposed halving the number of signatures needed to 5% of those who took part in the last parliamentary election and shortening the time to collect signatures to six months. If the 5% threshold is met, the Central…
Irish low-cost air carrier Ryanair has cancelled flights from the Estonian capital, Tallinn, to six destinations for the period from April to October 2025, BNS reports. During the summer season, the airline will not fly from Tallinn to Billund, Bergamo, Paphos, Rome, Treviso, and Vienna. Ryanair will continue to fly from Tallinn to Milan, however….
The body of a fourth US Army soldier has been found at the Pabrade training area in eastern Lithuania, US Army Europe and Africa announced, LRT reports. Three of the four missing soldiers were found earlier after an M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was pulled out of a swamp at the training area. The rescue operation…
The Latvian government has confirmed the appointment of Armands Ruks for another five-year term as chief of the Latvian State Police until October 2030, LSM reports. Ruks was first appointed to the post in October 2020. He said that his priorities in his second term of office would be to build police capacity, combat violence,…
