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happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions.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
- US Vice President Joe Biden held talks in Riga in order to reassure the Baltic States that the US stays committed to their defence.
Belarus
- The Unbreakable Brotherhood 2016 exercise for peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will take place in Belarus on 23-27 August.
- The Belarusian Air Force is expecting a new delivery of Mi-8 MTV-5 helicopters and four Yak-130 combat and training aircraft in the near future.
Denmark
- Denmark has not yet received an invitation by Russia to participate in the Russian led talks about Baltic security in September.
Estonia
- Ukraine and Estonia are considering the possibility of holding joint military exercises in 2017. This was discussed during a meeting between the Ukrainian Defence Minister, Stepan Poltorak, and his Estonian counterpart, Hannes Hanso, which was held in Kiev on the 24th of August.
Finland
- Foreign Minister Timo Soini has given his backing to a defence cooperation agreement between Finland and the United States that is being drafted by the Defence Ministry. His statement said that a deeper trans-Atlantic cooperation would be both important and sensible in terms of Finland's foreign and security policy.
Germany
- The German government is advising its citizens to create an individual foot and water supply for up to ten days in case of an attack or natural disaster. While no immediate attack or disaster is mentioned the fact that Germany has seen several terrorist attacks in recent months might have sparked the government to create new guidelines. The last time the German government advised its citizens to create their own food and water supplies dates back from the Cold War.
- Germany remains worried about the implementation of the Minsk agreement, calling the situation “complicated".
Lithuania
- Lithuania signed a € 386 million deal with Germany for the procurement of 88 Boxer infantry fighting vehicles (IFV). 84 Boxer IFV’s will be used in the Armed Forces while the remaining four will be used for training.
- President Dalia Grybauskaite had her first bilateral meeting with her Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda. During this meeting President Dalia Grybauskaite stated that Poland and Lithuania have the same understanding of geopolitical challenges.
Poland
- Poland keeps a close watch on the development of the latest Russian snap drill.
Russia
- Russia has been holding large scale snap drills in its Western, Southern and Central military districts since Thursday. The drills come only two days after US Vice President Joe Biden vowed Washington’s support for the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia against what he described as any act of aggression from Russia in Europe.
Sweden
- Sweden might pass on participating in the Russian led talks about Baltic security. One of the reasons is the fact that Denmark has not been invited. Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist stated: “For us it is very important the countries situated around the Baltic are acting collectively on this kind of invitation."
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