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,…
Russia may have targeted Lithuania’s embassy in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in a missile attack on 1 August 2026, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated, LRT reports. He said that Lithuania could not rule out the possibility that the attack, which damaged the embassy, was deliberate, pointing out that there were almost no strategic facilities near…
Türkiye’s Turkish Air Force (THK) has deployed some 80 troops and five F-16 fighter jets for the first time to Estonia’s Ämari air base as part of NATO’s Baltic air defence mission, ERR reports. THK replaced the Portuguese Air Force to patrol Baltic airspace until November 2026. Meanwhile, Italian Air Force has taken over responsibility…
Italy has taken over NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, replacing French and Romanian forces, BNS reports. Italy will deploy an air defence contingent of around 200 personnel with four Eurofighter Typhoon (EF-2000) fighter jets to the Siauliai air base in northern Lithuania. The outgoing French and Romanian detachments consisted of about 210 troops with four…
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…
Russia may be planning provocations against the Baltic States or Poland to test NATO unity, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics warned, BNS and LETA reported. Nauseda said that intelligence indicated that Russia could be preparing “targeted kinetic operations” against critical infrastructure in the region. Rinkevics said that the intelligence reports pointed…
Russia may be planning provocations against the Baltic States or Poland to pressure NATO countries into stopping support for Ukraine, Fox News reports. Latvian intelligence said that there were “indications” that Russia was preparing “military provocations” against the Baltic States or Poland. Russia could launch hybrid attacks using missiles, drones, or other actions, but the…
The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade will expand its presence to eastern Latvia, deploying troops in the city of Daugavpils for the first time, LSM reported. Allied forces will be stationed permanently elsewhere in the eastern Latgale region as well, according to the Latvian Defence Ministry’s news portal, Sargs.lv. Also, Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus announced…
Three parties in Lithuania have agreed on a coalition programme and the number of ministerial posts in a new incoming government, LRT and ELTA reported. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) will have nine ministers, while the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) will have three and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens…
