The customs authorities of the three Baltic States have agreed on uniform application of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, BNS reports. The directors of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian customs departments agreed to introduce stricter controls on sanctioned goods exported to or transiting through Russia and Belarus to third countries. The measures include requiring…
Ukraine may move part of its drone production to Lithuania, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced, BNS reports. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Landsbergis said that one option would be to set up joint drone production in Lithuania. Earlier, the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) announced plans to acquire reconnaissance drones within three years, BNS reported….
Lithuania is holding “intensive and very detailed” talks with Germany’s Rheinmetall on opening a new factory in the country, Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite announced, BNS reports. Rheinmetall’s top management met with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in November 2023. According to 15min, the new factory could produce NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells. Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have…
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has proposed extending current restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens for another year until May 2025, BNS reports. Under the proposal, the restrictions on Belarusians would be tightened but not completely to the level imposed on Russian nationals. Belarusian citizens arriving in Lithuania with Schengen visas would undergo extra risk assessments and…
A Russian attack on NATO countries was “practically impossible” in the near future, Lithuania’s defence chief, Valdemaras Rupsys, stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Rupsys warned that diverging political statements and military assessments on the Russian threat created “some confusion,” which could scare the public. His assessment was that the possibility…
Building unified Baltic defence infrastructure should be coordinated with Finnish and Polish military experts, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reports. Baltic cooperation with Finland and Poland was necessary to create an effective defence mechanism, he said. At the same time, Rinkevics reminded that Latvia was part of NATO’s defence planning. He discussed the issue…
The construction of the Baltic Defence Line in Latvia could take a decade, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds estimated, LETA reports. He noted that the project would entail significant costs, which were currently being assessed. The government will have to align the costs with other national priorities, the minister said. Earlier, Baltic defence ministers signed…
The Lithuanian government has banned military staff, border guards, and police officers from travelling off-duty to Russia, Belarus, and China, BNS reports. The Defence Ministry noted that Russia, Belarus, and China posed threats to Lithuania’s national security, including through espionage. Intelligence authorities in the three countries collect information on Lithuanian citizens with access to classified…
The decision of the three Baltic States to build a “Baltic defence line” is preparation for a possible Russian attack, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, BNS reports. He said that the move served as a political message, seeking to draw the attention of allies to the threat posed by Russia. “If Russia is not…