Baltic Rim Monitor Articles
Baltic States about the Kerch Crisis
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were one of the first countries to react on the Russian activities in the Sea of Azov. Three Baltic states have been politically and morally supporting Ukraine in its struggle with the Russian aggression since 2014.
Poland Joins the Lithuanian Project within PESCO
The Minister of the National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak visited Lithuania last weekend. Except for the participation in the ceremonies and visits to the Polish memorials, Minister Blaszczak took part in the talks between the ministers of defence of the Baltic states and signed a declaration about the Polish accession to the „Cyber Rapid Response Teams” programme, which is a Lithuanian initiative within the PESCO.
FSB Spying on the Russian Journalists Abroad
The Swedish international cooperation agency (SIDO) since 2002 has financed the SCOOP workshops for the Russian journalists from Russia. The workshops include training in investigative journalism. Organisers have suspected for many years that the Russian secret services have been interested in the programme.
Yandex.Taxi Enters the Streets of Helsinki
Yandex, a Russian IT baron, extends its influences to another EU market. Three Baltic states in which the Yandex.Taxi app was launched in the summer were joined by the fourth EU country. On November 9, first Yandex cars entered the streets of Helsinki. On the Finnish market, Russians operate under the name of “Yango”.
Finnish Ministry of National Defence about the European Army
The Minister of the Defence Jussi Niinistö unfavourably commented on the concept of creating a joint European army. In the interview for the Finnish STT news agency, he criticised the establishment of the joint European army promoted by France and Germany. Presumably, the project is not coherent with the Finnish security policy.
Latvia: the Pro-Russian Party Remains in Opposition
Although the left-wing Saskaņa party won the October elections to the Latvian Parliament, it still remains in opposition in the new political arrangement. President Raimonds Vējonis entrusted the leader of the conservatives with the task of forming a new government.
NATO Exercises, Russian Provocations
Trident Juncture 2018 manoeuvres which ended on November 7 were not only the biggest military exercises of NATO since the end of the Cold War, but they were also the most subject ones to Russian provocations. The proximity of borders of this country induced many dangerous activities of Russian vessels and aircraft during several days of exercises.
Finland’s Achilles Heel
The case of the Airiston Helmi company and the purchase of real property in the Turku Archipelago show what might be the greatest weakness of Finland if a potential conflict with Russia breaks out. It all boils down to maritime transport.
Ämari Base Getting Stronger Thanks to the USA
Ämari Air Base is becoming one of the main NATO military bases in the Baltic states. Every year, Americans channel considerable financial resources into the base located near Tallinn, within the EDI programme. Thanks to the systematic growth of the potential and development of the infrastructure, the base may serve more and more allied aircraft.
Russia reacts to Trident Juncture 18
NATO’s military exercises are currently being held in Norway. For years, NATO has not conducted joint manoeuvres on such a scale. This year, 29 countries participate in the exercises. The scale of the operation could not have been unnoticed by the Russian Federation, which announced that they would conduct simultaneous exercises on the seacoast of Norway.
Red Flag Exercises – Alaska 2018
Red Flag exercises, one of the most important air-combat training exercises of the U.S. Air Force, were held in Alaska and Nevada. About 100 aircraft and 1,500 airmen from the United States and other allied countries were stationed at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Lithuanian MIA Planning Evacuation in Case of an Incident in Astravyets
Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs developed a project in case of a serious accident in the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravyets. The strategy provides for the protection and information for people, evacuation plans, iodine prophylaxis and methods to limit the access to contaminated food and water.
Pope Francis’s Apostolic Visit to the Baltic States
Pope Francis has recently paid the first official visit of the head of the Catholic Church to the Baltic countries a quarter century since Pope John Paul II’s historic visit. Pope Francis’s message, addressed to the Balts during the recent pilgrimage, aimed to strengthen their arduous efforts undertaken in order to construct their independent homelands.
Geopolitical meaning of the Latvian elections
This year, the parties which take part in the parliamentary elections do not aim to achieve the greatest amount of votes because the real victory will depend on the coalitions between political groupings which will enter the parliament.
Warsaw Institute
