Lithuania: President convenes State Defence Council over division plans

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…

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Latvia: Defence Minister dismisses idea of “EU army”

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…

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Estonia: Vahur Karus favourite to become next EDF chief

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…

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Latvia: Third official dismissed over military rations case

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…

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Lithuania: Pres. Nauseda criticises Foreign Minister on German brigade debate

Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nauseda, criticised the “harsh rhetoric” of Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis over the deployment of a full German brigade in Lithuania, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with LNK, Nauseda said that such rhetoric was not helpful. He stressed the need to ensure trust in partner countries, noting that Germany was Lithuania’s “biggest…

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