Lithuanian-led Cyber Rapid Response Team (CRRT) might be involved in supporting Ukraine, Vice Minister of National Defense Margiris Abukevicius says. The Ministry of National Defense reported on Wednesday that an annual CRTT meeting, marking the start of the 2022 rotation, was held earlier this week. According to the vice minister,Continue Reading
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that the country is considering stationing another 900 troops and new weapons in Estonia. This would mean the UK doubling the number of troops it has in Estonia. The Brits are currently in charge of a NATO battle group in Estonia madeContinue Reading
The Lithuanian government will propose to temporarily apply a zero VAT rate to district heating for households as heating bills have soared to record highs this season, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said on Tuesday. The measure would cost the state budget around 23 million euros. “The current reduced 9 percentContinue Reading
Notions of “spheres of influence” have no place in the 21st century, Lithuania’s ambassador Rytis Paulauskas said at the UN Security Council meeting on Monday, amid mounting fears of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Times of limited sovereignty in Europe are long gone. Notions of ‘spheres of influence’ have no placeContinue Reading
The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will meet on Friday to discuss coordinating the easing of coronavirus restrictions in the Baltic states, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjanis Karinš has said. Latvia wants to develop a strategy to start lifting restrictions this month, public broadcaster LSM reported on Tuesday. KarinšContinue Reading
Even without the introduction of universal conscription, Lithuania will probably conscript all young men fit to serve in 6-8 years due to demographic changes, the country’s National Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas says. “One way or the other, we are moving towards a universal conscription model when practically all men, youngContinue Reading
The coalition Center Party wants to lift coronavirus certificate restrictions from February 7 as it no longer serves its purpose. Additionally, the party wants to relax all restrictions, including mass PCR testing. The party, which created the restrictions currently in place alongside the Reform Party, released a statement on Sunday.Continue Reading
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) urged the United States to ramp up its military presence in the Baltic countries in an interview to Financial Times. Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border. Kallas wants NATO to boost its eastern flank presence irrespective of whether Russia invades UkraineContinue Reading
Puolustusvoimien mukaan eristyksiin ja karanteeneihin soveltuvia tiloja löytyy joukko-osastoissa vain rajoitetusti. Esimerkiksi Porin prikaatissa tilanne on kuitenkin hyvä. Korona on iskenyt varusmiesten arkeen entistä rajummin, sillä tartuntamäärät ovat nousussa myös Puolustusvoimissa. Samaan aikaan anonyymin keskustelusovelluksen Jodelin intti-kanavalla käy keskustelu kuumana varusmiesten epäoikeudenmukaisesta kohtelusta karanteenissa ja muutenkin korona-aikana. Vastaavanlaista keskustelua onContinue Reading
An Estonian Navy (Merevägi) officer has been appointed new commander of a NATO mines coutermeasures group. Naval (Merevägi) Officer Cdr Ott Laanemets is now the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1), and has relieved Cdr Michal Dziugan of the Polish Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), following a ceremony held in TallinnContinue Reading