Latvia

Moscow Desires Russian Missile Shield over the Baltic States, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and Norway

Jorge Benitez — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:29:20 -0500

From Baltic News Service: Russia still wants to avoid elements of NATO’s anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence in close vicinity and proposes to the Alliance to divide Europe into responsibility areas

Baltic Spirit

Julian Lindley-French — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:49:26 -0500

Having dinner with the Lithuanian Chief of Defense Staff Lieutenant General Pocius was a moving experience. Listening to the story of his family’s struggle for freedom left with me with the profound sense that every NATO and EU leader should visit the Baltic States at least once a year to remind themselves of the importance of both the Alliance and the Union. Therefore, I am proposing two initiatives.

Connecting the Baltic States to Europe's Gas Market

Matthew Bryza and Emmet Tuohy — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:59:22 -0500

More than two decades after the end of the Soviet occupation, and eight years after they joined NATO and the European Union, the Baltic republics remain disintegrated from the rest of Europe in one crucial way: their natural gas infrastructure isolates them into “energy islands.” But, for the first time in their histories, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania now have a chance to secure their energy independence by connecting their natural gas systems with those of their European allies and evolving them into market-based trading systems.

Latvia Approves Proposal to Host New NATO Center of Excellence

Jorge Benitez — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:35:24 -0500

From Sargs.LV: On May 13 Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved a report on the creation of the NATO Center of Excellence for Strategic Communication in Latvia.

NATO Starts Security Drills in the Baltics

Jorge Benitez — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:05:45 -0500

From RIA Novosti: NATO countries start on Monday large-scale security cooperation exercises on the territory of the former Soviet republics in the Baltic region, the Estonian military said.

Russian ambassador criticizes NATO exercise for planning to liberate occupied member territory

Jorge Benitez — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:45:48 -0500

From RIA Novosti: [Russia’s NATO envoy Alexander] Grushko criticized a NATO exercise codenamed Steadfast Jazz 2013 due to be held in November, saying it is based on Cold War logic, which is a source of worry for Russia.

Estonia and Lithuania Disagree on Rotating NATO Air Policing Mission

Jorge Benitez — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:16:53 -0500

From Lithuanian Tribune: Estonian Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu is silent on when the issue of the NATO air policing mission’s periodic rotation between Lithuania and Estonia, wanted by Estonia, would be resolved.

NATO Allies Participate in Estonia's Spring Storm Exercise

Jorge Benitez — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:27:59 -0500

From Postimees: In addition to Estonian troops, around 350 land force personnel from Belgium, Britain, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as about 100 Polish airmen will take part in this year's edition of Spring Storm, the largest annual exercise of the Estonian defense forces.