Latvian ministries have submitted 250 proposals for spending cuts, Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens announced, LSM reports. Ministries have suggested cuts in remuneration, subsidies, goods and services, and other expenditure. The proposals would reduce public sector spending by EUR 150mn in 2026, the Finance Ministry estimated. The ministry targets cumulative spending cuts of up to EUR…
Estonia will have to borrow more to raise defence spending above 5% of GDP, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Tsahkna said that Estonia would try to obtain as much financing as possible under the EU’s SAFE instrument. The Finance Ministry is now analysing how much SAFE funding…
Latvia’s relations with the US are deep and positive, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze assured, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with LTV, Braze noted said that US President Donald Trump’s administration appreciated Latvia for being a good ally and for not engaging in public “loud rhetoric.” Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met…
The Lithuanian fertiliser producer, Achema, may begin producing explosives, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas announced, BNS reports. He was speaking after a meeting with representatives of Achema’s management. Earlier, Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), suggested converting some of the country’s large chemical plants to the production of explosives. Achema announced…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has proposed amendments to simplify the procedure to initiate public referendums, LETA reports. He proposed halving the number of signatures needed to 5% of those who took part in the last parliamentary election and shortening the time to collect signatures to six months. If the 5% threshold is met, the Central…
Resolving the current crisis in Ukraine’s relations with the US requires “cool heads and wisdom” rather than “very loud and sharp statements,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stated, BNS reports. He was commenting on an earlier angry exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House. “I suggest not…
There can be no lasting peace in Ukraine without the US, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV24, he noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump clearly had serious differences of opinion. However, the most important thing at the moment was not to exacerbate the…
The leaders of the three Baltic States held a video conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the war in Ukraine and European security on 2 March 2025, ERR reports. Starmer apologised for not inviting the Baltic States to a summit of European leaders in London, LRT reported. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy…
The Baltic States are disappointed that the UK failed to invite them to a summit of European leaders on the war in Ukraine on 2 March 2025, Sky News reports. A diplomatic source said that the Baltic States were “truly unhappy,” noting that Russia’s leaders and the Baltic public would assess that the US, UK,…