Contents tagged with Baltic States
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German politicians criticized the expansion plan for Nord Stream 2
A German politician from the Alliance 90/The Greens Party, Reinhard Bütikofer, stated that the Russian Federation funds the export of war through the export of energy resources. According to him, it is unacceptable to express favor to this country and provide support on economic issues at a time when the whole world is outraged by the role of Russia in Aleppo, Frankfurter Allgemeine reported.Frankfurter Allgemeine also quoted the Chairman of Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Norbert Rö …
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Latvian President: It is necessary to strengthen defense and cooperation with NATO due to Russia’s actions
The President of Latvia, Raimonds Vējonis, discussed the deteriorating defense situation in the Baltic Sea region due to Russia’s actions, noting that it is necessary to strengthen both defense and cooperation with NATO, during a meeting with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, in Helsinki, Yle reports.
It was reported that both Presidents emphasized the importance of cooperation when faced with Russia building its military presence in the region.
According to the Latvian President, …
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Swedish General urges the Baltic States to prepare for 'challenges' from Russia
The Baltic States have to be ready for new challenges in the field of security against the backdrop of Russia’s strategic steps, which are different from those made during the Cold War. This was the statement made by the former chief of the Armed Forces of Sweden, General Sverker Göranson.
“The Baltic countries are affected by climate change, hybrid offenses ... We are faced with a difficult situation in the field of security, leading to a number of other challenges,” Göranson said at the 2016 …
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Swedish expert: Russia is trying to establish control over the Baltic Sea
A Senior Lecturer from the National Defense College, Thomas Ries, told Aftonbladet newspaper that the deployment of two submarines to the naval base in Kaliningrad is part of Russia's strategy to establish control over the Baltic Sea.
Two small missile ships, the Zeleny Dol and the Serpukhov, were added to the Russian Baltic Fleet this week. They were transferred from the Black Sea Fleet.
Ries explained that in the event of a conflict, corvettes equipped with Kalibr missiles will be able to …
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Germany to deploy Leopard 2 tanks to Lithuania
German Leopard 2 tanks will be deployed to Lithuania along with German soldiers as part of NATO’s plans to create multi-national battalions in the Baltic States and Poland, TASS reported, citing a representative of the German Defense Ministry, Thomas Frueh.
"Indeed, the decision was made to dispatch tanks, but we cannot say what their numerical strength will be," Freuh said.
He also added that the tanks will participate in military exercises, and that their “main aim is to demonstrate their …
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Lithuanian President: Russia's military activity in the Baltic is a threat to all of Europe
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said that Russia’s military activity in the Baltic Sea is a threat to not only the Baltic States, but to Western European countries as well, as reported by Delfi.
While commenting on the presence of the Russian Navy in the Baltic Sea and the recent deployment of nuclear-capable Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad, Grybauskaitė said "There is no doubt that it is not directed just against the Baltic States, but against European capitals. This …
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NATO aircraft will make low-altitude patrols over Estonia
The air forces of NATO countries based in Estonia at the Amari air base will conduct low altitude flights over the country’s territory this week. The press service of the Estonian Defense Forces said that the German Air Force is currently based at Amari and that they took over the mission of protecting the Baltic State airspace on the 31st of August.
German Air Force Eurofighter aircraft will fly in pairs at altitudes not lower than 500 feet (152 meters) and away from the settlements during …
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Baltic States to triple military expenditures
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have a plan to triple their military spending between 2014 and 2018. An estimated amount of $670 million will be spent on arms and other military equipment.
By 2020, it is estimated that the combined defense budget of the three Baltic republics will be $2.1 billion. This is more than double the amount of when the countries first became part of NATO in 2004. It is also the fastest growth in any region. This was reported by Reuters referring to prominent research …
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NATO fighter jets escorted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea twenty times last week
Last week, NATO fighter jets performing patrol missions in the Baltic States scrambled twenty times to identify and escort Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea. The press secretary of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Captain Thomas Pakalniskis, told the Baltic News Service that Russian military drills taking place near Vilnius account for the great number of Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
“Russia conducts intensive drills in the Baltic region and performs …
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Polish Foreign Minister: Russia’s deployment of Iskanders to Kaliningrad is a disproportionate response
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski believes that Russia’s deployment of Iskander missile systems in the Kaliningrad region is an unreasonable and absolutely disproportionate response to the strengthening of the eastern NATO flank. He stated this opinion during a meeting with his Belarusian colleague Vladimir Makei in Warsaw, TVN24 reported.
“We see no grounds for such strengthening of the Kaliningrad garrison,” Waszczykowski said when commenting on the deployment of Iskander …