The European Commission has rejected a request from the three Baltic States for EUR 500mn of EU funding to develop an anti-drone defence system, LRT reports. Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said that the system would have combined drone detection, AI, and interception technology into an integrated air-defence system. The European Commissioner for Defence and…
Russia was likely responsible for an arson incident at a storage facility for satellite communications equipment in Lithuania on 18 October 2026, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius announced, LRT reports. He said that incendiary liquids and containers were found at the facility, which stored satellite antennas and a control unit for Starlink equipment. Vilmantas Vitkauskas,…
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, travelled to Moscow to warn Russia against attacking NATO countries, particularly the Baltic States, CBS, Politico, and The Wall Street Journal reported. Earlier, US intelligence assessed that Russia was considering attacks in the Baltic region to test NATO unity. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman,…
NATO fighters shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace in the early morning hours of 14 August 2026, LSM reported. Two Italian Eurofighter jets based at Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base and two Turkish F-16 jets from Estonia’s Ämari Air Base were involved in the operation, LSM reported. The drone was destroyed by one…
The Baltic States and Poland are preparing for possible Russian false-flag attacks against critical infrastructure, Reuters reports. Authorities have increased security measures at power and energy infrastructure facilities. A Baltic intelligence official expressed worry that a Russian attack could trigger “political chaos” at NATO headquarters and in allied capitals on how to respond. Latvia’s Constitution…
The Latvian government has launched “Operation Werewolf” to stop illegal border crossings from Belarus and Russia, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs announced, LSM reports. Latvia’s State Border Guard (VRS), State Police, State Security Service (VDD), Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD), and National Armed Forces (NBS) will exchange information on attempts to cross the border illegally…
Lithuanian military intelligence has information suggesting that Russia may use drones made in Ukraine to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure targets in the Baltic region, LRT reports. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said that the intelligence reports indicated that Russia was assessing the possibility of conducting such false-flag attacks, but that there was no evidence…
Estonia has signed an agreement with the European Commission on up to EUR 2.34bn in long-term loans for defence investments through the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, ERR reports. Under the agreement, the loan period will be 45 years. The Ministry of Defence will use the SAFE funding to acquire air defence capabilities,…
At their summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara, NATO leaders decided to turn the alliance’s rotating Baltic Air Policing mission into an air defence mission, ERR reported. The change will allow NATO fighter aircraft to respond more rapidly to threats in Baltic airspace. NATO’s air operations centre in Uedem, Germany, will have authority to decide…
