Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius urged the Catholic Church to cooperate in an investigation into child sexual abuse by two local priests, BNS reported. He called for answers on whether the Church had taken sufficient measures to detect, prevent, and report such abuse. “Moral authority mandates the highest standards of responsibility,” he stated. In the…
NATO fighters shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace in the early morning hours of 14 August 2026, LSM reported. Two Italian Eurofighter jets based at Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base and two Turkish F-16 jets from Estonia’s Ämari Air Base were involved in the operation, LSM reported. The drone was destroyed by one…
The leader of the Estonian Reform Party, Prime Minister Kristen Michal, expects Tiit Land, rector of Tallinn University of Technology, to be nominated officially as a candidate for president, ERR reports. He said that Land’s nomination should make the election process in the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, “interesting.” However, Michal said that he supported the…
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…
The Latvian government said that the financial situation of the country’s national airline, airBaltic, was “very serious,” LSM reports. Earlier, S&P Global Ratings lowered airBaltic’s credit rating from CCC+ to CCC- with a negative outlook, LRT reported. The agency noted that airBaltic’s had insufficient funds to cover its financial obligations and the government may not…
Representatives of parties in the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, are meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise and Tallinn University of Technology rector Tiit Land, ERR reports. Land met with Fatherland and Estonian Centre Party MPs on 12 August 2026, and Madise will meet with MPs from Fatherland, the Centre…
The Baltic States and Poland are preparing for possible Russian false-flag attacks against critical infrastructure, Reuters reports. Authorities have increased security measures at power and energy infrastructure facilities. A Baltic intelligence official expressed worry that a Russian attack could trigger “political chaos” at NATO headquarters and in allied capitals on how to respond. Latvia’s Constitution…
The Latvian government has launched “Operation Werewolf” to stop illegal border crossings from Belarus and Russia, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs announced, LSM reports. Latvia’s State Border Guard (VRS), State Police, State Security Service (VDD), Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD), and National Armed Forces (NBS) will exchange information on attempts to cross the border illegally…
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…
