German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Lithuania on the country’s Statehood Day on 6 July 2025, BNS reported. He reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Lithuania’s defence. Speaking at a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius, Steinmeier stated: “Your security is our security, your freedom is our freedom.” Germany is deploying a permanent brigade…
Latvia’s National Armed Forces (NBS) intends to recruit an additional 500 professional soldiers, Baltic News Network reports. NBS plans to recruit altogether 8,000 professional soldiers over 2025. The Defence Ministry has allocated up to EUR 7.7mn of state budget funds for military staff salaries in 2025. Another EUR 6.5mn will be needed in 2026. The…
The EU should take on joint debt to finance defence spending, Gediminas Simkus, board chairman of the Bank of Lithuania, stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Politico, Simkus called for “more unity in defence” in the EU, noting that the European defence industry market was still very fragmented. He said that the “time…
Latvia finally launched an early warning or cell broadcast system on 1 July 2025 after delays in the procurement process, LETA reports. The system was developed by Meditec for EUR 3.4mn under a contract with the Ministry of Interior’s Information Centre. The system will warn residents and visitors about natural disasters, military threats, or other…
Israel will soon open an embassy in Estonia, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced, ERR reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in Tallinn, Sa’ar said that the opening of the embassy would strengthen economic and military cooperation between the two countries. Tsahkna noted that Israel was an important…
Estonia will have to borrow more to raise defence spending above 5% of GDP, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Tsahkna said that Estonia would try to obtain as much financing as possible under the EU’s SAFE instrument. The Finance Ministry is now analysing how much SAFE funding…
Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, will hold a ceremony on 3 April 2025 to honour four US soldiers who died during a military exercise at the Pabrade training area in eastern Lithuania, BNS reports. The ceremonial cortege will proceed through the city centre and will be met by Archbishop Gintaras Grusas, President Gitanas Nauseda, Defence Minister Dovile…
Latvia’s relations with the US are deep and positive, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze assured, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with LTV, Braze noted said that US President Donald Trump’s administration appreciated Latvia for being a good ally and for not engaging in public “loud rhetoric.” Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met…
The Lithuanian fertiliser producer, Achema, may begin producing explosives, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas announced, BNS reports. He was speaking after a meeting with representatives of Achema’s management. Earlier, Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), suggested converting some of the country’s large chemical plants to the production of explosives. Achema announced…
