Diplomacy

Estonia’s new UK ambassador presents credentials to King Charles III

On November 6, Estonian Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Sven Sakkov presented his credentials to His Majesty King Charles III. Following the presentation, Ambassador [..]

Former German foreign minister suggests Canada should be part of EU

The former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel has proposed offering Canada partial membership in the European Union. The former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel has proposed offering Canada partial membership [..]

Agreement reached on closer co-operation between Latvia Israel

Latvian Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze met with the Israeli ambassadress to Latvia, Sandra Simovich, on Wednesday, and the two officials agreed that there is potential for further co-operation between their [..]

Canadian Foreign Minister discusses approach of US president-elect

Newly elected US president Donalds Trump, the nominee of the Republican party, will face a different geopolitical situation than the one that prevailed during his first term in office from [..]

Rinkevics congratulates Trump on winning U.S. presidential election

President Edgars Rinkevics congratulates Republican candidate Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election. In a post on X, Rinkevics says he is looking forward to working with [..]

Latvia to have new ambassador in US

Elita Kuzma will become the next Ambassador of Latvia to the US, according to information provided by the Chancery of the President of Latvia. She will replace Maris Selga, who [..]

Release of Wrongfully Detained Americans and Russian Political Prisoners

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva are now on their way back to the United States from Russia. Through the extraordinary efforts of [..]

The EU and its allies must do more to curtail Russian influence in Europe

By journalist Inga Karlinska. EU-Russia tensions have been elevated since the latter’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and have gone downhill since Russia’s outright invasion of and war [..]

Estonian PM highlights Zelenskyy’s peace plan as only viable option

At the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Saturday and Sunday, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plan, centered on [..]

BNS asks Lithuanian presidential candidates about foreign policy

Continuing a series of articles in which presidential hopefuls respond to questions posed by BNS, in the second part, we present the candidates’ responses on Lithuania’s foreign policy. We asked [..]

German Chancellor confirms strong support for strengthening Baltic security

The security of NATO allies is also our security and “an attack on the Baltics would be an attack on all of us”, which must not be allowed, German Chancellor [..]

Estonia continues efforts to free its citizen from ship seized in Hormuz Strait

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that Estonia is continuing its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of an Estonian citizen who was on board a ship seized in the Strait [..]

President supports Braze as foreign minister

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics supports the nomination of diplomat Baiba Braze for the post of foreign minister. Rinkevics told journalists on Wednesday after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina [..]

Latvian officials condemn Iran’s attack on Israel

President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity), who is also acting as Foreign Minister, condemn the attack on Israel by Iran on Sunday night. Rinkevics stressed that [..]

EU could agree that Russian presidential ‘elections’ in temporarily occupied Ukraine are not legitimate – Zatlers

The European Union (EU) could agree that the Russian presidential ”elections” in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are not legitimate, former President Valdis Zatlers told LETA. In his opinion, [..]

Voters, protesters and police gather at Russian Embassy in Tallinn

Russian citizens living in Estonia can vote during the last day of Russia’s so-called presidential election at the Russian Embassy in Tallinn. People started gathering around the embassy building in [..]

Decision on boycott of Paris Olympics should be taken timely – Silina

The decision on a possible boycott of the Paris Olympics should not be taken in the last 24 hours before the opening of the Games, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina [..]

Lithuania ready to step up its strategic partnership with Poland – president

Lithuania ready to step up its strategic partnership with Poland, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday after meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Vilnius. “We are close allies [..]

New Ambassador to Italy committed to developing economic cooperation in smart specialization sectors

The new Latvian Ambassador to Italy Elita Gavele is committed to developing economic cooperation between the two countries in smart specialization sectors. As the ambassador told LETA, this will also [..]

European Parliament approves key budgetary support for Ukraine, EU

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved long-term funding for Ukraine, the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and associated major changes to the multi-year EU budget. Parliament on Tuesday approved [..]

Lithuanian formin urges international community to wake up on Ukraine

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called on the international community to make the right historical decisions and to wake up, as he addressed the UN Security Council last Friday, on [..]

Riigikogu speaker to discuss cooperation, open Estonian honorary consulate in Germany

The speaker of the Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar, began an official visit to Germany on Monday, as part of which he will meet with the leaders of the German parliament, participate [..]

Mihkelson says Baltic-Nordic cooperation could be a model for US Congress

Marko Mihkelson, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament, says that cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries is something very special and unique, which could [..]

China resorts to ‘diplomatic coercion’ against Lithuania – foreign minister

Beijing has resorted to “diplomatic coercion” against Vilnius after easing its economic pressure on Lithuania, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Saturday. Landsbergis said he would raise the issue during [..]

Belarusian border guards’ entry into Lithuanian territory was deliberate provocation –SBGS

The entry of three armed Belarusian officers into Lithuanian territory was a deliberate act, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service, says. The SBGS reported earlier in the [..]

Estonia sees first year without Russian airspace violations since 2014

Estonia’s airspace was not breached by Russia in 2023 – the first time in almost a decade. However, experts do not believe it suggests a reduction in Russia’s capabilities due [..]

Ukrainian President Zelensky visits Baltic states

Ukrainian President Zelensky arrives in Lithuania Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Wednesday. His plane landed at Vilnius Airport at around 10.30 a.m. and he was met by [..]

Hungary’s veto on EUR 55 billion for Kyiv has created an emergency situation that threatens the outcome of the war – MEP Kalniete

Hungary’s veto on EUR 55 billion in support for Ukraine has created an emergency situation that threatens the outcome of the war, stressed European Parliament Member Sandra Kalniete (New Unity), [..]

Speaking to German media, Estonian PM warns against Orban’s blockade at EU meeting

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas expressed her concern about the total blockade that her Hungarian colleague Viktor Orban may organize at the European Union summit, the German public TV channel [..]

Russia interested in opening Kaliningrad crossing, no proposals yet – Lithuanian MFA

Russia is interested in the possibility of opening the Dubki-Rambynas border crossing point but has not yet made any proposals to Lithuania, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has told BNS. “The Ministry [..]

Germany to send around 4,800 troops, 200 civilian staff to Lithuania – ambassador

With Berlin planning to deploy a brigade in Lithuania, Cornelius Zimmermann, Germany’s ambassador in Vilnius, said on Thursday that about 4,800 troops and 200 civilian personnel will arrive in the [..]

Karins signals interest in NATO top job

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) is looking to join the list of contenders to succeed NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, a second top politician from the Baltics to express [..]

Lithuanian president welcomes Russia’s removal from UNESCO Executive Board

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday welcomed the decision not to elect Russia to the Executive Board of UNESCO and called for Moscow’s removal from the UN Security Council. “Great [..]

Lithuania opens embassy in Singapore

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis officially opened Lithuania’s embassy to Singapore on Friday. In his speech, the minister said that this marked “the opening of yet another gateway to Southeast Asia”, [..]

Lithuanian formin suspends London ambassador, recalls for consultations

Lithuanian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Eitvydas Bajarunas, accused of mobbing and abuse of office, has been suspended and recalled to Vilnius for consultations. “On Monday, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis [..]