The new National Security Strategy (NSS) of the United States shows that the US understands the security sensitivities of the Baltic region, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated, BNS reported. Speaking after a joint meeting with her Estonian and Latvian counterparts in Riga, Ruginiene said that the US had assured that it would not withdraw…
The Estonian government has proposed amendments that would extend the period of mandatory military service to 12 months for all conscripts as of 2027, ERR reports. Currently, those who start their military service in the beginning of the year serve for 11 months, while those who start in autumn serve for 8 months. The Ministry…
The United States will not reduce its troops presence in Lithuania, currently numbering over 1,000, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with LRT, Ruginiene assured that there was no risk of the US cutting the number of troops in the country following the government’s decision to raise defence spending…
Latvia’s Ministry of Defence has announced details on its planned spending under the government’s defence budget in 2026, LSM reports. Latvia will spend a total of EUR 2.158bn on defence in 2026, which will be 4.91% of the estimated annual GDP. Altogether EUR 1.14bn (53%) of the defence budget will go to buy new military…
The Baltic States will receive “special favour” from the United States in the future for being “model allies” who prioritise their own defence, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated, ERR reports. The three Baltic countries have pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP to defence over the coming years. Allies that “fail to do…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading draft laws accompanying the state budget for 2026, LETA reports. MPs will now begin discussing the draft budget. The government’s budget priorities are national security, support for families with children, and high-quality education. Revenues are planned at EUR 16.1bn and expenditures at EUR 17.9bn. The…
Lithuania has submitted an application for EUR 6.375bn of support from the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument to finance around 50 defence projects, BNS reports. Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa said that Lithuania would use the EU funds to acquire tanks or tracked infantry fighting vehicles for a national army division. Also,…
The Norwegian-led Nordic-Baltic training camp for Ukrainian soldiers, Camp Jomsborg, was opened officially in southern Poland on 1 October 2025, ERR reports. The camp at the Polish Land Forces training ground in Nowa Deba will provide both basic training for soldiers and advanced courses for officers and specialists. The facility will be able to train…
Russia’s use of “shadow fleet” tankers in the Baltic Sea is increasingly dangerous for the region, according to a report from the Military Intelligence Centre (Luurekeskus) of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), ERR reports. Restricting the shadow fleet would reduce Russia’s revenues and military capabilities, and greatly improve security in the Baltic Sea region, the…