The weekly SITREP (Situational Report) brings relevant events that happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions. They nevertheless provide important background information concerning the Baltic Region.
General
- The United Kingdom will still remain committed to the defence of Europe through the NATO framework, according to a statement made by Defence secretary Michael Fallon.
- A BREXIT will not cause any serious losses to the economies of the Baltic States, as reported by the Bank of Latvia.
- Several countries in Central and Eastern Europe oppose the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that connects Russia and Germany. In their statement they claim that it will make the EU more depended on Russian natural gas imports and is moving the EU away from diversifying its energy supplies.
- Canada is being asked to lead one of the new four battalions that NATO will deploy in the Baltic States and Poland. Canada will most likely lead the 1,000 men strong force that will be stationed in Latvia.
Estonia
- The Estonian Prime Minister, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, met with is Polish counterpart President Andrzej Duda on Sunday 26 June. Talks were held on the BREXIT and the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw.
- The government of Estonia held an emergency meeting on Monday 27 June to discuss the consequences of the BREXIT.
- Estonian Prime Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves hopes that the EU will become more united after the UK leaves.
- Estonia will allocate 13 million Euro to cover the costs of hosting allied troops.
Germany
- Chancellor Angela Merkel has called to increase the defence budget of the German armed forces citing that a 1.2% GDP investment is too low to defend the EU against external threats and unfair compared to the US.
- Germany supports the plans to expand the economic ties between Belarus and the EU
Latvia
- A Russian Kilo class submarine was detected in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Latvia. The submarine passed at 8 nautical miles of the Latvian border. The detection was made on 30 April but the news was released only this week.
- Up to 2,000 Latvians support the idea of leaving the EU according to the Russian news website SputnikNews. Most of them are ethnic Russians, probably inspired by the BREXIT and Russian propaganda.
Lithuania
- Unemployment in Lithuania is expected to rise by the end of the year. Already economic growth in Lithuania has stopped in the first quarter of 2016.
- The Armed Forces are getting equipped with self-propelled PzH 2000 in the attempt to further mechanize the army.
- Lithuania will continue to contribute soldiers in Iraq and the EU mission in the Mediterranean.
Russia
- Russia plans to deploy Iskander –M ballistic missiles in the Kaliningrad Region, according to a statement made by Admiral Vladimir Komoedov. The deployments of the Iskander-M missiles are part of circumventing the US Missile Shield in Europe.
- Talks about energy deliveries from the Baltic nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad have been held. The Baltic States are expected to remain with the position they took in 2013, namely to remain out of Russia’s plans to create an unified energy system for the Baltic States.
- Russia started mooring trails of the first floating nuclear power plant at St. Petersburg.
- 50 Baltic Fleet commanders were fired on Tuesday 28 June. The senior officers were dismissed for problems with combat training and their failure to ensure the well-being of personnel. There is also mention of false reports given to the Kremlin about the fleet's condition.
Sweden
- Sweden has a seat in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for the next two years.
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