#NATO

Raimond Kaljulaid: Estonia must call for Ukraine to be invited into NATO

The real test of Estonia’s foreign policy resolve and consistency lies in whether we have the courage to once again raise the issue of inviting Ukraine to join NATO at [..]

First ships depart as NATO launches large-scale Baltic Sea exercise

NATO forces have begun conducting a two-week exercise on the Baltic Sea, with the first naval ships departing from the north-eastern German port of Rostock on Thursday morning. Among the [..]

Lithuanian president calls for increased defence spending in NATO member states

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday that NATO must step up its future defence funding commitments. As the United States has pressed allies to allocate 5% of GDP to [..]

NATO Secretary General commends Czechia’s commitment to a stronger, fairer and more lethal Alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Czech President Petr Pavel to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (21 May 2025) to discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague. The [..]

NATO experts discuss nuclear deterrence challenges in Helsinki

NATO’s annual Nuclear Policy Symposium kicked off in Helsinki, Finland. Held annually since 1992, it is the Alliance’s main nuclear policy event. The symposium brings together outside experts as well [..]

New NATO-Ukraine Centre hosts resilience workshop to enhance cooperation and readiness

The NATO Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland held a workshop on total defence and resilience. 21 participants from six NATO Allies and Ukraine addressed topics [..]

NATO Allies discuss boosting defence spending and industrial capacity with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska welcomed the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, to NATO Headquarters for a meeting with Allies in the North Atlantic Council. Ms. [..]

Secretary General reaffirms transatlantic unity in Warsaw: There is no alternative to NATO

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Warsaw, where he met Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Foreign Minister Radosław [..]

Search continues for US soldiers in Lithuania

Crews working overnight at a military training area in eastern Lithuania removed some silt in the area where a missing vehicle carrying US troops was lost, but water is continuing [..]

German AI boss: “Drone wall” on NATO eastern flank possible in a year

By Carsten Hoffmann, dpa. German defence company Helsing is calling for the swift establishment of an effective conventional deterrent on NATO’s eastern flank using new types of combat drones. “A [..]

Remarks by Mark Rutte with the Donald J. Trump

First of all, thank you so much, Mr President, dear Donald again for hosting me and also for taking time in Florida a couple of weeks after you were re-elected. [..]

NATO Secretary General call with President Trump

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Donald Trump, President of the United States. He thanked the President for his commitment to a strong NATO Alliance and a lasting peace [..]

NATO Allies discuss energy security with the Executive Director of the IEA and the European Commissioner for Energy

On Wednesday (19 February 2025), Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol and the European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Joergensen, to the [..]

Secretary General in Munich: Europe needs to step up

Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday and Saturday (14-15 February 2025). He stressed the need for a strong NATO, urging European Allies to increase [..]

Kaljulaid: Western Europe freeloading on US and EU eastern flank’s defenses

Former President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid has noted favorably an apparent push by the United States for many Western European nations to increase their defense spending, highlighting NATO’s unfair burden [..]

NATO Secretary General calls for a strong NATO-EU partnership at EU leaders’ informal retreat

On Monday (3 February 2025), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte participated in an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels to discuss European defence. During the meeting the Secretary General [..]

NATO Secretary General at Davos: we have to change the trajectory of the war

On Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 January NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the World Economic Forum in Davos. Speaking at a breakfast held in support of Ukraine, hosted by [..]

NATO to patrol Baltic Sea with more ships, aircraft and drones

Helsinki (dpa) – NATO announced a new mission on Tuesday to better protect critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea with significantly more ships, aircraft and drones, as concerns about [..]

Estonia wants NATO to start infrastructure monitoring rotation in Baltic Sea

Estonia wants NATO members to start monitoring Baltic Sea infrastructure on rotation, similar to the air policing mission, following suspected sabotage of undersea cables. A dozen ships will be deployed [..]

NATO to enhance military presence in the Baltic Sea

Allies met on December 30, 2024, at NATO Headquarters to discuss the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland on [..]

NATO Secretary General hails Bulgaria’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic security

NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, visited Bulgaria today (19 December 2024), where he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivan Kondov, and the Minister of Defence, Atanas Zapryanov, and [..]

Germany’s spy chief: Putin is banking on the failure of NATO

The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service BND on Wednesday warned of increasing hybrid attacks by Russia on Germany and the NATO defence alliance, with the underlying goal of testing [..]

NATO helps to boost scientific cooperation on the security implications of climate change in the southern neighbourhood

Experts on climate change from 16 countries – including NATO members and partners – as well as from NATO, the European Union and the African Union gathered in Rome (Italy), [..]

SAPRA: A new player on NATO’s Eastern Flank

This year, during the Latvian Patriots’ Week, on November 14, the official opening event of the International Association of Defense Products Manufacturers (SAPRA) took place. The event brought together more [..]

Former force commander discusses Rail Baltica from military perspective

Retired Lt Gen Ben Hodges at one time was commander of US forces in Europe, and he is puzzled as to why Rail Baltica tracks, which are the most important [..]

In Estonia NATO Secretary General visits a multinational battlegroup protecting the Eastern Flank

During his first trip to the Eastern Flank of the Alliance since taking office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Estonian President Alar Karis, Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Foreign [..]

“NATO will defend Allied interests in the Arctic” says Chair of NATO Military Committee

The Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer attended the 11th edition of the Arctic Circle Assembly. While in Iceland, he also met with the Chief of Defence, [..]

Greece declines NATO air policing mission

Greece has declined a request from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to take part in NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic States, citing its current obligations in the Balkans as [..]

NATO holds annual nuclear exercise: Steadfast Noon

NATO will begin its annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Monday (14 October 2024) with more than 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over western Europe. Steadfast Noon runs [..]

Lithuanian president: drone incident in Latvia shows need to beef up Baltic air defense

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned violations of NATO airspace by the aggressor and called for strengthening air defense in the Baltic countries following the crash of a Russian military drone [..]

Inspired by Poland, Lithuania aims to boost defense budget to over 3 pct of GDP – Nauseda

Lithuania, inspired by Poland’s example, aims to allocate more than 3 percent of its GDP to defense, President Gitanas Nauseda said in Warsaw on Wednesday. Currently, Poland allocates 4 percent [..]

Russian drone’s violation of Polish airspace is on NATO’s agenda – Spruds

The incident in which a Russian drone reportedly entered Polish airspace is on NATO’s agenda, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) said in an interview with TV3 channel on Tuesday. [..]

NATO Through Time podcast – NATO’s open door with Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

The NATO Through Time podcast dives deep into NATO’s history, reflecting on how the past influences the present – and future – of the longest-lasting alliance in history. This episode [..]

NATO membership gives a sense of security to a third of Latvian residents – survey

One third or 36 percent of the Latvian population feel safe in Latvia because the country is protected by NATO membership, according to an opinion poll conducted by Rait Custom [..]

Canadian Griffon helicopters arrive in Latvia

Canada has delivered CH-146 Griffon helicopters to Latvia as part of the continued development of the NATO Multinational Brigade, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) informs. The Canadian side indicates [..]

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 [..]

Lithuanian troops to leave for NATO mission in Iraq

Members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Redeployable Communications and Information Systems Module are leaving for a NATO mission in Iraq on July 14. During the four-month mission, the troops will [..]

NATO Secretary General in Riga: Latvia leads by example

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga on Tuesday (11 June 2024), praising Latvia for its many contributions as a NATO Ally over 20 years. He [..]

Secretary General at Berga Naval Base: Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger and safer

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the Swedish Armed Forces at Berga Naval Base on Friday (7 June 2024), in his first visit to Sweden since the country joined NATO in [..]

Lithuania mulls buying Iris-T air defense systems from Germany – minister

Lithuania is considering acquiring Iris-T medium-range air defense systems from Germany, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said after meeting with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Lithuania’s Baltic Sea resort [..]

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 [..]

Lithuanian lawmakers allow up to 10,000 foreign troops to come for BALTOPS

Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday adopted a special resolution allowing up to 10,000 troops from other countries to take part in the international Exercise Baltic Operations 2024 (BALTOPS) to be held [..]

Spain plans to join Riga-based NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence

The Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding on the Spanish Defense Ministry’s plan to join the Riga-based NATO Strategic Communication Centre of Excellence. The Spanish Defense [..]

NATO to invest EUR 160 million in development of military port in Liepaja

NATO has taken a decision to allocate more than EUR 160 million for the development of a military port in the area of Karosta Port in Liepaja, Defense Minister Andris [..]

Secretary General in Armenia: stability in the South Caucasus matters to NATO

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg concluded his tour of the South Caucasus on Tuesday (19 March 2024) in Yerevan, Armenia where he met with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister [..]

Swedish flag raised at NATO Headquarters

The Swedish flag was raised at NATO Headquarters for the first time on Monday (11 March 2024) in a ceremony to mark the country’s membership of the Alliance. Sweden became [..]

Russia preparing for long-term confrontation with NATO, including Baltics – intelligence

Russia is not only allocating massive resources for the war in Ukraine but is also preparing for a long-term confrontation with NATO, according to Lithuanian intelligence. “Russia is allocating enormous [..]

NATO completes modernisation of major airbase in Albania

Albania officially re-opened Kuçova airbase on Monday (4 March 2024), after transforming the decades-old base into a modern hub for NATO future air operations. Located around 80 kilometres south of [..]

No legal limit to Suwalki Corridor’s defense – Lithuanian advisor

A defense plan for the Suwaiki Corridor was drawn up back in 2022, and Polish troops would also defend the territory in Lithuania, so there is no legal restriction on [..]

West has not yet betrayed Ukraine, but has forgotten about this difficult war – Latvian volunteer soldier

The West has not yet surrendered Ukraine, but it has forgotten that a difficult war is going on and is instead solving its own problems, a Latvian volunteer soldier in [..]