NATO’s new defence plans for the Baltic region are “very good and detailed,” Latvia’s Defence Minister, Inara Murniece, stated, The Baltic Times reports. The new plans provide for allied defence of the region from day one of a possible attack. Murniece noted that the plans were drawn up 18 months ahead of schedule. However, executing…
The invitation for Ukraine to join NATO must be "clear and irrevocable," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, The Baltic Times reports. Speaking after a leadership meeting at the presidential palace to prepare for the NATO summit in Vilnius, Landsbergis reiterated Lithuania’s full support for Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO. The meeting was also attended…
Finland’s NATO membership opens up new opportunities for defence and security cooperation between Estonia and Finland, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated, The Baltic Times reports. Speaking during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s official visit to Estonia, Kallas said that Finland’s accession has bolstered NATO as a whole and the security of the Baltic Sea…
Latvia’s Riga City Council has appointed Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) as acting mayor, following the resignation of mayor Martins Stakis, The Baltic Times reports. Meanwhile, city councillor Miroslavs Kodis said that the political group of Movement For and Progressives was considering proposing deputy mayor Linda Ozola of the Code for Riga party as acting mayor…
Lithuania’s government has approved an Indo-Pacific strategy to strengthen relations with partner countries in the East Asia region, The Baltic Times reports. The Foreign Ministry said that strategy outlined Lithuania’s key interests and priority areas in the region, with a focus on enhancing the country’s security and economic prosperity. The document recognises the increasing strategic…
Estonian shipping company Tallink Grupp carried a total of 1,541,081 passengers in the second quarter of 2023, which was down 0.7% from 1,552,174 in the same period of 2022, The Baltic Times reports. The drop was mostly due to the fact that the company has chartered out 7 of its 15 vessels. Tallink transported 85,359…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has begun discussing a proposal from the parliamentary speaker, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, to seek the Constitutional Court’s opinion on the compatibility of the Istanbul Convention with the country’s Constitution, BNS reports. The corresponding draft resolution passed the first reading in parliament. The final vote on the resolution will take place in…
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that there was no need to impose identical restrictions on Russians and Belarusians in response to the possible relocation of Russian mercenary group Wagner Group to Belarus, BNS reports. Earlier, President Gitanas Nauseda criticised the decision of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, to override his veto and approve different…
Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins invited every Latvian living abroad to return home, The Baltic Times reports. He stressed their essential role in Latvia and assured them of a warm welcome upon their return. Speaking at the Kipsala International Exhibition Centre to diaspora participants of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, Karins urged expatriates to…