Lithuania has submitted an application for EUR 6.375bn of support from the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument to finance around 50 defence projects, BNS reports. Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa said that Lithuania would use the EU funds to acquire tanks or tracked infantry fighting vehicles for a national army division. Also,…
Latvia’s National Armed Forces (NBS) intends to recruit an additional 500 professional soldiers, Baltic News Network reports. NBS plans to recruit altogether 8,000 professional soldiers over 2025. The Defence Ministry has allocated up to EUR 7.7mn of state budget funds for military staff salaries in 2025. Another EUR 6.5mn will be needed in 2026. The…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called a meeting of the State Defence Council (VGT) for 23 January 2024, BNS reports. The meeting will discuss a strategic threat assessment from the Lithuanian intelligence services, the structure of the national defence system, and the economic and financial measures for building an army division. Lithuania plans to establish…
Germany’s Bundeswehr expects that the German brigade to be deployed in Lithuania will be made up of volunteers, Major General Ruprecht von Butler, commander of the German 10th Panzer Division, said, BNS reports. He assured that there would be enough troops willing to volunteer. Germany will deploy around 5,000 troops to Lithuania over 2025-2026, and…
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds expressed scepticism about the idea of creating an “EU army,” LSM reported. Latvia’s position was that NATO was irreplaceable and constituted the cornerstone of European security, Spruds stated. He pointed out that NATO united most EU countries as well as non-EU countries, insisting that there was no need to duplicate…
The commander of the Estonian Military Academy (KVA), Brigadier General Vahur Karus, may become the country’s next defence chief, sources told Postimees, ERR reports. The term of the current commander of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), General Martin Herem, will end in 2025. Herem’s former deputy, Major General Veiko-Vello Palm, is unlikely to succeed him due…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) remain the country’s most trusted institution, according to a new Baltijos Tyrimai poll for LRT. The survey showed that 76% of respondents had confidence in LGP in June 2023. Another 71% trust the police, followed by the Catholic church with 66%, the president with 66%, the State Social Insurance Fund…
Latvia’s Ministry of Defence has dismissed a third official implicated in a scandalous food procurement contract for the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), LETA reports. The official in question worked at the NBS. Earlier, the ministry dismissed Eriks Ezerins, head of the procurement commission, and Imants Freibergs, head of procurement and contracts at the NBS…
Polish President Andrzej Duda will pay a state visit to Lithuania on 5-7 July 2023, the Lithuanian president’s office announced, BNS reports. The state visit will begin with a bilateral meeting between Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. The two presidents will attend a flag raising ceremony outside the presidential palace in Vilnius on King…