Latvia was hit by the strongest storm since 1966 on the night of 22-23 August 2026, LSM reported. Wind speeds exceeded 30 mps in some areas, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVGMC), LETA reported. Several injuries and one fatality were recorded. Electricity distributor Sadales Tikls reported that the storm cut power…
One of the prime architects of the restoration of Estonia’s independence, Siim Kallas, has died at the age of 77 years, his daughter, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, announced, ERR reports. Kallas served as president of the Bank of Estonia in 1991-1995, member of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, in 1995-2004 and 2019-2024, foreign…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda’s national security adviser, Marius Cesnulevicius, supported a proposal to tighten controls on Russian transit through Lithuanian territory to and from the Kaliningrad region, BNS reports. Earlier, MP Arvydas Anusauskas of the conservative opposition Homeland Union proposed amendments that would cut the transit time from the current 24 hours to 6 hours, ELTA…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda assured that Lithuania was not considering withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), LRT reports. He insisted that any talk of leaving the ICC was “completely difficult to comprehend.” Earlier, the US urged allied countries, including Lithuania, to withdraw or distance themselves from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, LRT…
The EU should cover costs related to confronting Russia, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs stated, Politico reports. He said that the EU should grant an additional EUR 7bn from its next multi-annual budget to compensate for Latvia’s higher defence spending and loss of trade with Russia. Latvia’s projected defence spending over the seven-year budget period…
A group of US lawmakers urged Lithuania to resist pressure and coercion from communist China and to maintain close relations with democratic Taiwan, BNS reported. In a joint letter sent to Lithuania’s political leaders, the co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus of the US House of Representatives noted that China continued to exert pressure on…
Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, has confirmed that she is ready to run for president if there is sufficient support in the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, for her candidacy, parliamentary speaker Lauri Hussar announced, ERR reports. Speaking after a meeting of the parliament’s council of elders, Hussar said that parties would now begin collecting…
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,…
Lithuania is making progress towards normalising relations with communist China, Juozas Olekas, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, said, BNS reports. Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that Lithuania’s position on China remained unchanged, stressing the need for a unified European approach as part of the EU’s common foreign and security policy. He warned that…
