Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, said that the Estonian Defence Forces believed that the country’s defence spending could rise to 4.5% of GDP, ERR reports. However, Pevkur emphasised the need for a “reasonable limit” due to investments in health care, social welfare, and education. He acknowledged the desire for increased spending on defence given…
Latvia has extended altogether EUR 595mn of aid to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression, which is equal to 0.85% of Latvia’s GDP, Ukrinform reports. Bilateral military assistance to Ukraine amounts to EUR 370mn. Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins noted that Latvian support included macro-financial, humanitarian, and development aid. Also, Latvia has provided…
In his New Year’s address, Estonian President Alar Karis emphasised the country’s goals of preserving the Estonian language and culture while striving to be a good and secure place to live, ERR reports. Despite the challenges in 2023, he urged citizens to find positivity, acknowledging personal and national achievements. Karis addressed political concerns and stressed…
Finnish authorities announced that the prime suspect in the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia is the Chinese cargo ship, NewNew Polar Bear, YLE reports. The damage to the gas pipeline and Finnish and Swedish telecommunications companies Elisa’s and Arelion’s data cables coincided with the ship’s journey, Reuters reported. The Finnish…
The Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland was damaged deliberately by human activity, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated, ERR reports. The undersea gas pipeline was closed due to a leak. Pictures taken at the scene indicated that the damage was done by “something greater than a diver or unmanned submersible,” Pevkur said. He…
Finnish authorities suspect that Russia attacked the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Finnish daily Iltalehti reports. The undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Finland was closed due to a leak on 8 October 2023. At the same time, telecommunications operator Elisa’s data cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged as well, ERR reports. Finnish…
The Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland has been closed due to a possible leak, ERR reports. Finnish gas transmission system operator Gasgrid Finland reported that the 77-kilometre undersea pipeline experienced a pressure drop in the early hours of the morning of 8 October 2023. The cause of the problem and the location of…
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis condemned the attacks of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas against Israel. Nauseda assured that Lithuania stood “in full solidarity” with Israel and stressed Israel’s right to defend itself. Landsbergis insisted that the use of violence and terrorism must end, while Simonyte vowed that…
Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics and Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins strongly condemned the indiscriminate terrorist attacks by Palestinian group Hamas against Israeli citizens. They stressed that Israel had the right to defend its people. Latvia stands in solidarity with the people of Israel, Rinkevics stated. Karins insisted that the violence must stop. At the same time,…