Ukraine will remain the number one priority of Estonia’s foreign policy for as long as the war continues, Jonatan Vseviov, secretary general of Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, said, ERR reports. If Ukraine manages to survive winter 2024-2025, then spring-summer 2025 could be easier, he suggested. Estonia will never accept changes to European borders through military aggression,…
The prolonged war in Ukraine has forced Europe to wake up to the threat that Russia poses, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told The Kyiv Independent. He pointed to a “change of mentality,” a realisation that Russia is an aggressive country and will remain a threat, and that Europe can actually fight back. Nevertheless, too…
Lithuania has stepped up monitoring of the NordBalt power cable linking Lithuania and Sweden, Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas announced, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Vaiciunas noted that the undersea power interconnection was very important for Lithuania’s electricity market. He stressed that the response to acts of sabotage on critical infrastructure should…
Malta has cancelled a visa issued to Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, following joint pressure from the three Baltic states, The Baltic Sentinel reports. According to Russian independent news outlet Meduza, Malta cancelled Zakharova’s visa a day before a ministerial council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)…
The draft programme of Lithuania’s incoming government calls China a “growing challenge” for foreign and security policy, BNS reports. The programme sees China’s strategic partnership with Russia and growing influence in Belarus as a threat. The new coalition pledges to work for a united approach towards China with Lithuania’s European and transatlantic partners. Also, the…
Latvian ministers informally discussed the possibility of cancelling the Rail Baltica railway project but decided against such a move, Prime Minister Evika Silina revealed, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Silina said that the government concluded that abandoning the project would result in a significant loss of invested resources. Moreover, the project will…
The only workable guarantee of security for Ukraine is NATO membership, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, Interfax-Ukraine reports. He said that NATO membership would not only ensure Ukraine’s own security, but would also help build the European security architecture. Tsahkna called for more military support for Ukraine, saying that it was NATO’s duty to…
The Latvian government has approved new regulations under which transport and related infrastructure, signs, and information must be in Latvian and, if needed, in another official EU language, LSM reports. The new rules will thus preclude such signs in Russian. Justice Minister Inese Libina-Egnere said that the new rules would create a more attractive environment…
Baltic and Canadian foreign ministers met in the Latvian capital, Riga, on 2 December 2024, European Interest reported. The ministers discussed transatlantic relations as well as regional and global security and cooperation. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze stressed that containing Russia and providing strong support to Ukraine were essential for the long-term interests of transatlantic…