Lithuania: New government may reopen ties with Belarus

Lithuania’s incoming new coalition government may try to resume official dialogue with neighbouring Belarus on reopening transport links and trade, The Baltic Sentinel reports. Political analyst Vytautas Bruveris noted that many rural voters of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens (LVZS), especially in eastern Lithuania, were tired…

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Latvia: NATO deploys troops to eastern Latvia

The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade will expand its presence to eastern Latvia, deploying troops in the city of Daugavpils for the first time, LSM reported. Allied forces will be stationed permanently elsewhere in the eastern Latgale region as well, according to the Latvian Defence Ministry’s news portal, Sargs.lv. Also, Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus announced…

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Baltic: NGOs urge review of migrant pushbacks

Following the entry into force of the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, human rights groups in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland urged their governments to review migrant pushback practices on the border with Belarus, BNS reported. In a joint statement, Latvia’s I Want to Help Refugees (GPB), Lithuania’s Sienos Grupe, and Poland’s Association for…

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Baltic: Ukraine signs drone, defence deals with Baltics

The prime ministers of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries announced that the group would cooperate with Ukraine on military expertise and training, information sharing, and the development of their defence industries and technology, ERR reports. Joining the summit meeting in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready to supply…

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Lithuania: Finnish president on two-day state visit

Finnish President Alexander Stubb is paying a two-day state visit to Lithuania, STT reports. Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, and a large business delegation are travelling together with the president. The visit will focus on bilateral relations, defence and technology cooperation, and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Stubb will meet…

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Lithuania: President rejects rapprochement with Belarus

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda rejected suggestions that relations with Belarus were improving, LRT reported. He said that there had been no positive changes on Belarusian balloon incursions, illegal migration, or participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. There were thus no grounds to ease sanctions on Belarus, Nauseda stated. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that…

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Estonia: Armed forces, allies to assist law enforcement

The Estonian government has approved legislative amendments to improve the country’s defence against so-called “little green men” and hybdrid attacks, ERR reports. Specifically, the bill would allow the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) to engage in law enforcement activity and NATO allied personnel to participate in countering hybrid threats and ensuring border security under EDF command….

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