Lithuania’s new government plans to ease export controls on dual-use goods, LRT reports. Economy Minister Lukas Savickas said that the previous government had imposed the restrictions without consulting businesses first. He insisted that the restrictions must not harm exporters of high-tech products and should only be imposed if companies violate existing sanctions. An industry representative…
There is currently no threat of a full-scale Russian attack against the Baltic States, the outgoing commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), Leonids Kalnins, stated, FREEDOM reports, citing DELFI. He pointed out that Russia was currently tied in the war of aggression against Ukraine and suffering “significant losses.” While Russia still had capacity…
The only workable guarantee of security for Ukraine is NATO membership, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, Interfax-Ukraine reports. He said that NATO membership would not only ensure Ukraine’s own security, but would also help build the European security architecture. Tsahkna called for more military support for Ukraine, saying that it was NATO’s duty to…
Baltic and Canadian foreign ministers met in the Latvian capital, Riga, on 2 December 2024, European Interest reported. The ministers discussed transatlantic relations as well as regional and global security and cooperation. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze stressed that containing Russia and providing strong support to Ukraine were essential for the long-term interests of transatlantic…
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, is visiting Latvia on 1-4 December 2024 to attend the second 3+1 meeting of Baltic and Canadian foreign ministers, Global Affairs Canada announced. The ministers will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in Eastern Europe, and other regional and global challenges to peace and security. Joly…
The EU’s new foreign policy chief, former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, are visiting Kyiv to show support for Ukraine on their first day in office, ERR reports. Kallas stressed that the situation in Ukraine was “very, very serious.” She acknowledged that it was becoming increasingly…
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, Marko Mihkelson, urged South Korea to consider stronger support for Ukraine, including military assistance, The Korea Herald reports. If Russia prevails in its war of aggression against Ukraine, the stability and security situation will worsen not only in Europe but also in…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has passed a resolution designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, BNS reports. The Seimas is the first national parliament in the EU to declare IRGC a terrorist group. The resolution calls on the EU to add the IRGC to the union’s list of terrorist organisations…
Latvia’s state-owned passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has now received all 32 new electric trains from the Czech manufacturer, Skoda Vagonka, LETA reports. Initially, all trains were due to be delivered by the end of 2023. Raitis Nespors, acting board chairman of Vivi, conceded that the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine contributed…
