Latvia’s left-of-centre party, the Progressives, will not leave the country’s three-party coalition government for now, Andris Suvajevs, leader of the party’s parliamentary group, announced, LETA reports. However, he insisted that Prime Minister Evika Silina, head of the ruling New Unity party, was unable to lead the government. The Progressives will invite Silina for talks. Meanwhile,…
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda were by far the most visible Baltic political leaders in Western media in 2025, according to a survey by Estonia’s Government Office, The Baltic Sentinel reports. The survey looked at mentions of Baltic presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and defence ministers in US, British, German,…
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds has stepped down after Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded that he resign, LSM reports. Silina announced that she had lost trust in the minister due to his mishandling of recent incursions of Ukrainian drones and the broader situation in the defence sector, LETA reported. Silina said that her adviser, Colonel…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina sharply criticised Defence Minister Andris Spruds after drones from Russia crashed in Latvian territory, LETA reported. Silina pointed to the lack of timely warning to local residents about the incoming drones. The government’s EUR 2bn defence budget means that people will expect accountability from the minister, she stated. Silina said…
Several unmanned aerial vehicles entered Latvian airspace from Russia, and two of them crashed in eastern Latvia, in the early morning hours of 7 May 2026, according to the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), LETA reported. One of the drones crashed at East-West Transit’s oil storage facility in Rezekne, LETA reported. No significant damage and…
The US has warned European allies, including Estonia and Lithuania, of long delays in the delivery of US weapons due to the Iran war, the Financial Times reports. Reuters reported on the delays earlier. The US Department of Defence told to expect serious delays for several missile systems, including HIMARS and NASAMS used by Estonia…
Estonia has recommended that Ukraine redirect its drone attacks against Russia’s Baltic Sea ports farther away from Estonia’s borders, Colonel Ants Kiviselg, commander of the Military Intelligence Centre of the Estonian Defence Forces, said, ERR reports. Lithuania’s Deputy Defence Minister, Tomas Godliauskas, insisted that Ukraine warn the Baltic States if their drones veer off course,…
Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to nominate Hannes Hanso as the country’s new ambassador to the United States, ERR reports. He would replace Kristjan Prikk, who has been appointed to the post of Estonia’s ambassador to NATO. Currently, Hanso is Estonia’s ambassador to China, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Previously, he has served as defence…
The US Congress has approved USD 200mn in security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) in 2026, ERR reports. BSI supports the independent defence capabilities and interoperability of the Baltic States. In addition, the US has allocated defence aid to the Baltic States under the Department of State’s Foreign…