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happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions.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
- A B-52H of the 2nd Bomb Wing flew non-stop from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana to the North and Baltic seas as part of Exercise Polar Roar. Russia claims that a total of three B-52 and two B-2 stealth bombers were flying over the Baltic Sea.
- Economic growth is predicted for the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Rumania and Lithuania. There are however no guarantees but it is expected that central and eastern Europe will see more investments from abroad.
Estonia
- US Airforce A-10's continue to practise landing and taking off on highways during military exercises in Estonia.
- Estonia will send 6 military advisors to Iraq to participate in the training of Iraqi security forces. The advisers will be deployed in Anbar province to take over the training of the local police and border guards.
- Estonia agreed on a third power line connection between Estonia and Latvia. The project is expected to be finished in the spring of 2017.
- Estonia plans to create a 5km border zone on its Russian border. Police will have additional powers to deny people access to this border zone.
Germany
- The Nord Stream pipeline, transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany, will be shut down from Aug. 9 to 17 for a planned maintenance.
Latvia
- Experts from different nations will meet in Latvia in order to plan the Canada-led NATO battalion that will be formed in Latvia.
- The Mayor of Riga has called for preparations once the EU sanctions against Russia are lifted. In his statement he said: “And we should prepare for this now because when the sanctions are lifted, everyone will fight for the return to the Russian market — Lithuanians, Estonians and Poles, and we must be there first."
Lithuania
- Exercise Flaming Thunder launches in Lithuania. Around 1.100 military personnel from the NATO member states - Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Portugal, the United States, also mortar specialists from Ukraine , will participate in the training. Lithuania will also test the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers that it recently bought from Germany. The exercise will take two weeks and will be held at the Pabrade training area.
- Lithuania and the Netherlands had mutual talks about further economic cooperation.
Poland
- The temporary border controls between Poland and its neighbours are removed. Poland introduced border controls for the NATO Warsaw summit and an international Catholic event.
Russia
- Russia invited representatives from NATO, Sweden and Finland for consultations. The meetings will take place in September. Estonia already declined the invitation on Thursday.
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