The Latvian government has extended the enhanced border protection regime on the border with Belarus for another six months until 30 June 2026, LSM reports. The regime, which is in force in certain parishes and municipalities along the border, was due to expire at the end of 2025. The enhanced control regime was declared due…
Latvia must be fully ready to dismantle railway tracks going to Russia if necessary, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze stated, LSM reports. However, she said that it would make no sense for Latvia to do so unilaterally. Latvia will coordinate the issue with Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland. Earlier, the presidents of the three Baltic States…
Estonia could close its border with Russia after Russian border guards crossed illegally into Estonian territory, Interior Minister Igor Taro stated, ERR reports. The government will discuss a possible revision of the current threat assessment. Taro said that the response should be proportional. Estonian and Russian border guards met to discuss the incident. Even though…
Estonia’s Foreign Ministry has handed a note of protest to the Russian embassy after three Russian border guards crossed into Estonian territory without permission, ERR reports. The Russian guards crossed the temporary control line between Estonia and Russia at the Vasknarva breakwater on the Narva River in the morning of 17 December 2025, ERR reported….
Leaders of the three Baltic States took part in the first Eastern Flank Summit, which was organised by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, LETA reported. The summit was also attended by leaders from Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Sweden as well as EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal noted that Europe’s eastern…
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki will meet with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, during a working visit to Latvia on 11 December 2025, LSM reports. The two presidents will discuss security issues, specifically the war in Ukraine, migratory pressure from Belarus, and the situation in the Baltic Sea. Also, Nawrocki will meet with Latvian Prime Minister…
Latvia’s Ministry of Defence has announced details on its planned spending under the government’s defence budget in 2026, LSM reports. Latvia will spend a total of EUR 2.158bn on defence in 2026, which will be 4.91% of the estimated annual GDP. Altogether EUR 1.14bn (53%) of the defence budget will go to buy new military…
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urges Lithuania to reconsider its policy of turning back irregular migrants at the border with Belarus, BNS reports. Annika Sandlund, UNHCR representative to the Nordic and Baltic countries, said that Lithuania should review its emergency legislation that allows pushbacks. Even though irregular migrants were being used for…
Lithuania has asked the European Commission (EC) to help release Lithuanian trucks detained in neighbouring Belarus, BNS reports. Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys and Transport Minister Juras Taminskas urged the EC to draw up a coherent action plan to support EU haulage companies. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that around 280 Lithuanian trucks were stuck in…