In his New Year address, Lauri Hussar, speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, outlined key challenges for Estonia in 2024, ERR reports. He emphasised the importance of transitioning to Estonian as the sole language of tuition in schools, viewing it as vital to preserving the country’s language and culture. Hussar urged unity in recognising…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed deep concerns about the West’s approach to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Euromaidan Press reported. In a Twitter thread, he warned against repeating historical mistakes and called for immediate action, urging the international community not to wait for a “Pearl Harbor effect.” Landsbergis criticised the 25-year attempt to contain Russian…
Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, said that the Estonian Defence Forces believed that the country’s defence spending could rise to 4.5% of GDP, ERR reports. However, Pevkur emphasised the need for a “reasonable limit” due to investments in health care, social welfare, and education. He acknowledged the desire for increased spending on defence given…
In his New Year’s address, Estonian President Alar Karis emphasised the country’s goals of preserving the Estonian language and culture while striving to be a good and secure place to live, ERR reports. Despite the challenges in 2023, he urged citizens to find positivity, acknowledging personal and national achievements. Karis addressed political concerns and stressed…
Finnish authorities suspect that Russia attacked the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Finnish daily Iltalehti reports. The undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Finland was closed due to a leak on 8 October 2023. At the same time, telecommunications operator Elisa’s data cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged as well, ERR reports. Finnish…
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis condemned the attacks of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas against Israel. Nauseda assured that Lithuania stood “in full solidarity” with Israel and stressed Israel’s right to defend itself. Landsbergis insisted that the use of violence and terrorism must end, while Simonyte vowed that…
Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics and Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins strongly condemned the indiscriminate terrorist attacks by Palestinian group Hamas against Israeli citizens. They stressed that Israel had the right to defend its people. Latvia stands in solidarity with the people of Israel, Rinkevics stated. Karins insisted that the violence must stop. At the same time,…
Estonia’s President Alar Karis and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna strongly condemned attacks by the Palestinian terrorist organisation, Hamas, against Israel, ERR reported. Tsahkna stated that Estonia stood in solidarity with Israel, which had a full right to defend itself and its people. Meanwhile, Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament,…
Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, is visiting Finland, STT reports. She will meet with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and President Sauli Niinistö. Kallas and Orpo will discuss border security, regional security in the Baltic Sea area, support for Ukraine, and EU issues. The two prime ministers will hold a joint press conference. Also, Kallas…