Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the likely nomination of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s new secretary general raised the question of whether the alliance has first-rank and second-rank members, Politico reported. She pointed out that Rutte would be the fourth NATO chief from the Netherlands. “Are we equals or are we…
Members of the Estonia-Taiwan Support Group of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, will visit Taiwan on 4-8 March 2024, ERR reports. The largest ever Estonian delegation to Taiwan, the MPs will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, parliamentary speaker Han Kuo-yu, Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, as well as representatives of…
Russia has issued arrest warrants against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Deutsche Welle reports. This is the first time that Russia has opened a criminal case against an acting foreign head of government. The Russian Interior Ministry’s full database of wanted people, which was leaked to independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, indicated that Kallas and…
Around 2,000 farmers protested across Latvia against the government’s agriculture policies on 5 February 2024, according to the Farmers’ Parliament (ZSA), LSM reported. Police said that the protests passed peacefully with no significant incidents, LETA reported. Farmers staged rallies with agricultural machinery in altogether 16 cities, calling for a ban on imports of Russian and…
Latvian farmers will begin holding protests across the country on 5 February 2024, the Farmers’ Parliament (ZSA) announced, LSM reports. ZSA chairman Juris Lazdins said that the composition of the current government was “particularly distinguished by its arrogance and indifference.” The organisation has submitted its demands to Prime Minister Evika Silina and Agriculture Minister Armands…
The customs authorities of the three Baltic States have agreed on uniform application of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, BNS reports. The directors of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian customs departments agreed to introduce stricter controls on sanctioned goods exported to or transiting through Russia and Belarus to third countries. The measures include requiring…
Lithuania is holding “intensive and very detailed” talks with Germany’s Rheinmetall on opening a new factory in the country, Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite announced, BNS reports. Rheinmetall’s top management met with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in November 2023. According to 15min, the new factory could produce NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells. Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics backed a unilateral ban on Russian grain imports without waiting for a joint EU decision, LETA reported. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina, Rinkevics pointed out that some of the Russian grain was stolen from occupied Ukrainian territory and that Russia was using food as a “hybrid weapon.”…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced that she will not attend the Independence Day reception at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn on 24 February 2024, ERR reports. Earlier, President Alar Karis decided not to invite most MPs to this year’s reception. Several MPs have expressed displeasure at the President’s decision. Kallas said that she would…