Authorities in Lithuania suspect a member of the conservative Homeland Union of spying for Russia, BNS reports. Sources confirmed that the suspect was Eduardas Manovas, a dual Lithuanian and Russian citizen from Siauliai. Remigijus Bridikis, deputy director of the State Security Department (VSD), said that the suspect was part of Russian military intelligence’s (GRU) illegals…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed in final reading a new tax on local credit institutions, LETA reports. Under the new law, credit institutions registered in Latvia and branches of foreign credit institutions will have to make quarterly solidarity contributions for the next three years. The tax will amount to 60% of their excess…
The only workable guarantee of security for Ukraine is NATO membership, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, Interfax-Ukraine reports. He said that NATO membership would not only ensure Ukraine’s own security, but would also help build the European security architecture. Tsahkna called for more military support for Ukraine, saying that it was NATO’s duty to…
The defence committee of the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved President Edgars Rinkevics’s nomination of Brigade General Kaspars Pudans as the next commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), LETA reports. Pudans emphasised the need to develop Latvia’s defence capabilities further. Currently, Pudans serves as commander of the Latvian National Guard (LRZS). He…
Estonia’s Defence Ministry sees no need to halt the development of wind farms off the Estonian coast, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced, ERR reports. He insisted that air and maritime surveillance issues related to offshore wind farm projects were manageable. Pevkur assured that concerns expressed by the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) over the negative impact…
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, is visiting Latvia on 1-4 December 2024 to attend the second 3+1 meeting of Baltic and Canadian foreign ministers, Global Affairs Canada announced. The ministers will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in Eastern Europe, and other regional and global challenges to peace and security. Joly…
The EU’s new foreign policy chief, former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, are visiting Kyiv to show support for Ukraine on their first day in office, ERR reports. Kallas stressed that the situation in Ukraine was “very, very serious.” She acknowledged that it was becoming increasingly…
The Netherlands has taken over responsibility for NATO’s air policing mission at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base from the Spanish Air Force as of 1 December 2024, ERR reports. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has deployed F-35 fighter jets to the air base, which was reopened after runway repairs that lasted nine months. The Netherlands will…
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, Marko Mihkelson, urged South Korea to consider stronger support for Ukraine, including military assistance, The Korea Herald reports. If Russia prevails in its war of aggression against Ukraine, the stability and security situation will worsen not only in Europe but also in…