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happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions.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 EU agreed to prolong its sanctions against Russia as long as Russia does not comply with the Minsk II agreement.
- NATO and Russian leaders will meet on 13 July for a new NATO-Russia Council.
- The United Kingdom plans to send 500 troops to Estonia and 150 to Poland in order to strengthen NATO’s defences.
Belarus
- The Czech Republic will aid Belarus in its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
- Belarus will continue to strengthen its army with advanced weapons and more hardware. Among the hardware a new Mi-8 helicopters and Yak-130 aircraft.
Finland
- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Finland on Friday 1 July where he promised Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that he will reduce the tensions between Russia and the EU.
- Rear Admiral Veijo Taipalus visited the Belgian Navy base at Zeebrugge on Tuesday 5 July.
- Finland is looking to by K9 Thunder self-propelled guns from South Korea in order to equip its rapid reaction forces.
Germany
- Chancelor Angela Merkel said in the lower house of the German parliament that East European states now needed “clear reassurance” from the NATO alliance. She also defended NATO’s plans to increase the presence of troops in Eastern Europe.
Latvia
- The Latvian minehunter M-04 Imanta arrived in Zeebrugge, Belgium on Monday 4 July to commence mine operation sea train with the Belgian Navy.
- Vice President Joe Biden will visit Latvia in the summer, giving assurances that the US remains committed to the Baltic States.
Lithuania
- The Netherlands have promised to deliver troops in the 1,000 men strong NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania.
- Norway also promised to station troops in Lithuania, starting from early 2017.
Poland
- At midnight on Sunday, Poland temporarily restored border checks with its EU neighbours – the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, as well as at ports and airports. The decision was made to increase security for the NATO summit in Warsaw (8-9 July) and the World Youth Days, to be held in Kraków, southern Poland, on 25-31 July.
- Poland made further progress in talks with the US firm Raytheon for the purchase of the Patriot missile defence system.
Russia
- Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that Russian airplanes in the Baltic Region will fly with their transponders switched on but only if NATO vows to do the same.
- The Russian Security Council met discussing aviation safety over the Baltic Region. This meeting comes ahead of a renewed NATO-Russia council on 13 July.
- It is expected that Russia will exhaust its Reserve Fund by next year to pay its budget deficit unless energy prices on the international market start rising again.
- Russia plans to construct new radars in the Baltic and Black Sea regions. The Podsolnukh ("Sunflower") system has an off-shore range of 200 miles and is designed for tracking ship and aircraft movements as well as guiding missiles. The first radar in the Baltic could come into service next year, Interfax reported.
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