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happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions.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
- Denis MacShane, the UK's former Europe minister, has warned that any "weakening" of the EU after the UK's decision to leave could pose a security threat to the three Baltic States, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
- The Ministers of Defence of Estonia and Poland held discussions on Wednesday 07 September on how to ease the restrictions on border crossings for NATO allies.
- An economic forum between Finland and Belarus will be held in the Belarusian town of Gomel on 13-14 September.
Belarus
- A meeting will be held by the heads of the SCO, CSTO and CIS organisations in Minsk on 11 September. The organisations are expected to exchanges views on security as well as stability in their regions and globally.
- Nine observers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will help monitor the elections to the House of Representatives. The total number of foreign observers has already exceeded 820.
Denmark
- After 8 months of temporarily ID controls at the Danish-German border a total of 1.7 million people have been checked. The border controls were instated in order to combat illegal immigration by refugees from the Middle-East seeking access to Scandinavia.
- On Thursday 1st September, Danish police wounded a gunman accused of shooting two officers and a bystander during a drug raid. Police identified him as Mesa Hodzic, a Danish citizen who "apparently" sympathized with Islamic extremists, but said they didn't believe this influenced the shooting.
Estonia
- The United States have expanded their sanctions against Russia and added the Estonian private bank “Krediidipank” on their list. “Krediidipank” is for 60% owned by the Russian firm BM-Bank PJSC.
- After three failed rounds a new presidential election will occur on 24 September. The vote will be held by all 101 members of parliament and 234 representatives of local government councils.
- Estonia once again made official complaints against Russia for violating its airspace.
Finland
- Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan pledged Monday 5th September to maintain high-level military exchanges and cooperation with Finland in a meeting with his Finnish counterpart Jussi Niinisto in Beijing.
- The Russian shipyard ‘Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Ltd’ saw its lend lease extended in the Hietalahti and Hernesaari ports. Arctech is however on the US sanction list against Russia.
Germany
- German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen says an EU force will help the European Union defend itself from external threats. This comment was made during her visit to Lithuania to announce German's army deployment as a deterrent to Russia.
Latvia
- Andrejs Pantelejevs, the parliamentary secretary of the Latvian Defense Ministry, stated that the Baltic States have been at "hybrid war" over the last three years and accused Russia of strengthening of military presence near the Baltics' borders and demonstration of power.
Lithuania
- The Gas Interconnector Poland-Lithuania (GIPL) pipeline will be constructed in 2019. The GLIP is a part of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan and will give greater energy independence for the Baltic States.
Poland
- The Gas Interconnector Poland-Lithuania (GIPL) pipeline will be constructed in 2019. The GLIP is a part of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan and will give greater energy independence for the Baltic States.
Poland
- 2500 Russian immigrants, most of them Chechens, are halted on the border with Belarus. Polish border guards are denying them entry without a valid visa.
- Poland wants to play the role of the UK’s intermediary in the Brexit talks, but tariff-free access to the single market will require concessions on the free movement of people, the Polish deputy prime minister has said.
- Poland plans to by the US Patriot missile system as a deterrent against the Russian deployment of S-300, S-400 and Iskander M missile systems in Kaliningrad.
Russia
- Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov called Finland “unprepared” for serious talks on European security. Finland refused to join these Russian led talks, concerning air and sea safety and on how to avoid incidents, without consultation other nations in the Baltic Region.
- Norway, Finland and Lithuania are amongst the hardest hit countries under the Russian food embargo according to a report on the economic situation in Russia published by the TASS news agency.
Sweden
- The Nord Stream 2 Company will submit a request in two weeks to the Swedish government for carrying out construction of the new gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
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