That Estonia is among the top NATO member states in terms of defense contributions gives the country a disproportionately strong voice when advocating with member states of that organization and of the European Union for defense spending, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) said Monday. Speaking to “Välisilm,” the prime ministerContinue Reading
Norway will finance the production of Ukrainian weapons and military equipment, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov revealed following high-level meetings in Oslo with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram on November 15. “Norway will join the ‘Danish model’ of support—direct financing of production in Ukraine. This will accelerate the manufacturing andContinue Reading
Finland’s Interior Minister, Mari Rantanen, (Finns) has confirmed to Yle that she supports a proposal put forward by 14 of her party colleagues earlier this week calling for a ban on face coverings in public places. The proposal would effectively mean a ban on the wearing in public of theContinue Reading
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told the Reuters news agency that she opposes the idea of imposing neutrality on Ukraine. Valtonen’s comments were in response to the possibility of incoming US president Donald Trump moving to quickly end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Some of Ukraine’s allies are concerned that UkraineContinue Reading
Incoming US president Donald Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine soon, possibly even before stepping into office, Alexander Stubb said in an interview with the Bloomberg news agency. “I think his [Trump’s] agenda is quite clear. He talks about ending the war in Ukraine.” According to Stubb, Trump’sContinue Reading
Many former high-ranking military officers are moving into prominent defense sector roles as the sector grows. Retired or reservist, senior military officers have transitioned into roles within defense industry companies, a trend partly attributed to the significant growth of the defense market, according to security expert Meelis Oidsalu, who wasContinue Reading
The state is ramping up efforts to detect and counter drones along Estonia’s eastern border and around its major towns and critical or sensitive infrastructure zones. With a hostile eastern neighbor using drone tech more and more, not only for hybrid activities but for criminal activities such as smuggling, aContinue Reading
The Norwegian government has allocated NOK 28 million (USD 2.6 million; EUR 2.4 million) towards stopping the spread of humpback salmon, and NOK 22 million (USD 2 million; EUR 1.9 million) towards treating Norwegian rivers for the Gyrodactylus salaris parasie. Both the invasive salmon and the parasite pose a significantContinue Reading
A SURVEY by Helsingin Sanomat has revealed stubborn and widespread public doubts about the policy agenda of the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP). Policies pursued by the four-party ruling coalition were assessed to make Finland a better place to live in by only a quarter of respondents andContinue Reading
US President-elect Donald Trump should be taken seriously when he talks about ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. Negotiations are possible in the coming months, says Finnish President Alexander Stubb. “We in Europe and the rest of the world need to understand that Donald Trump is very serious about getting aContinue Reading