Estonia’s national conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), remained the country’s most popular political party in January 2026, according to Norstat’s latest poll for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. Fatherland’s support stood at 26.4%, followed by the opposition Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) with 20.7% and the ruling Estonian Reform Party with 15.2%. The…
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…
Estonian authorities have boarded and detained a Bahamian-flagged container ship suspected of smuggling, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMTA) announced, ERR reports. Officials stopped the vessel, Baltic Spirit, off the island of Naissaar in Estonia’s internal waters. The ship, with an all-Russian crew, was en route from Ecuador to Saint Petersburg in Russia. The vessel…
Estonian President Alar Karis has appointed Kristjan Prikk as the country’s new ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ERR reports. Prikk, who has served as Estonia’s ambassador to the US since 2021, will replace Estonia’s current NATO ambassador, Jüri Luik, as of August 2026. Previously, Prikk served in various defence-related diplomatic posts. He…
Police in Estonia have registered over 1,000 violations of a law banning symbols of state aggression since April 2022, ERR reports. The law prohibits the public display of symbols supporting international crimes, including Russia’s wars of aggression. Erik Kalda, managing editor of local daily Põhjarannik, said that everyone in the majority Russian-speaking Ida-Virumaa county now…
Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, has asked the Supreme Court to declare the country’s new car tax unconstitutional, ERR reports. Madise argued that current legislation was in conflict with the Constitution as it did not allow refunding the motor vehicle registration fee in exceptional cases, such as when the vehicle was stolen, destroyed, or…
Power plants in Estonia generated 3,619 GWh of electricity from renewable sources in 2025, which was up 7% from 2024, according to transmission system operator Elering, ERR reports. Renewable energy accounted for 68% of total electricity production and covered 41% of total electricity consumption in 2025. Electricity production from wind power amounted to 1,324 GWh…
The Estonian government is still considering countermeasures in response to an incursion of Russian border guards into Estonian territory in December 2025, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, ERR reports. Russia continues to deny the illegal intrusion at the Vasknarva breakwater, ERR reports. Possible measures under discussion include closing individual border crossing points or applying…
The defence ministers of the three Baltic States have signed a letter of intent on establishing a Baltic Military Mobility Area, LSM reports. The aim is to standardise border crossing procedures, coordinate the movement of military cargo, and ensure operational information exchange. Furthermore, the Baltic allies will work to align their military movement procedures with…