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Royal Danish Embassy
T. Kosciuskos 36, LT-01100 Vilnius
Tel: +370 (5) 264 8768
Mob: +370 6995 7760
Fax: +370 (5) 231 2300
The Defence Attaché To
Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Newsletter for the Baltics
Week 10
2015
The following information is gathered from open sources, mainly from the Baltic News Service
(BNS), respective defence ministries press releases and websites as well as various
newspapers, etc.
THE BALTICS
Delegation from the Danish Parliament conduct visits
to the Baltic countries
On 2-6 March members of the Danish Parliament's
Defence Committee and Permanent Delegation to
NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly, including chairmen of
both groups, conducted a visit to the Baltic countries.
The main objective of the visits was to discuss the
changed security situation in the Baltic region. Danish
delegation met with a number of representatives from the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
states and armed forces, such as members of National Defence Committees in Lithuania and
Latvia, Lithuania’s President, as well as Vice Defence Minister and Vice Foreign Minister. Latvian
and Lithuanian Land Force bases and an Air Force base in Estonia. Estonian and Latvian
Defence Ministers have welcomed the delegation as well, so did the Policy Directors.
BALTICS AND RUSSIA/UKRAINE
Lithuanian Foreign Minister: unity in “not doing anything” not satisfactory
On 6 March in Riga Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said that Europe’s unity on
Russia is important but it must be reflected in agreement on specific actions. According to
Linkevicius, the EU has so far failed to take sufficient measures to resolve the ongoing crisis in
Ukraine where the government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists.
"Unity is a very good word, everyone is for unity. But unity not to do anything it’s not for me. I
don’t like it. We have to be united on doing something,” said Linkevicius.
Russian announces setup of S-300V4 missiles in western regions
On 5 March a representative of the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that the Russian
military plans to deploy the S-300V3 ballistic system, equipped with new missiles, in the
western parts of Russia. The missiles have a range of 400 kilometres, and are designed to
destroy short and medium range ballistic missiles, but also fixed-wing aircrafts. According to
the ministry spokesperson, the production of the new missiles has already begun.
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Russian warships and submarine detected near Latvian territorial waters
Last week Latvian Armed Forces detected two Russian ‘Parchim’-class corvettes, and one
submarine near Latvian territorial waters. This marks the 13th time Russian navy vehicles are
spotted near the Latvian sea border this year. Subsequently, Latvian Minister of Defence,
Raimonds Vejonis, met with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Alexander Vesnakov, to
discuss Russian military activity in vicinity of Latvian territory. “Russia’s military activities near
the frontiers of Latvia raise concern about the security situation in the region, particularly in the
context of events in Ukraine, therefore I called the Ambassador to explain why vessels and
aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces are manoeuvring few kilometres from our frontiers,”
Vejonis commented.
US and Lithuania to provide medical training to Ukraine
On 3 March Lithuanian Defence Ministry released that
Lithuania is joining the US-led training mission of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces and will provide support to
Ukraine’s paramedics through medical training. The
mission which will continue the assistance to Ukraine will
involve three Lithuanian specialists of military medicine
who will serve together with US troops.
Together with US soldiers Lithuanians will be training
Ukrainian military to render in-theatre first medical aid properly. The training will be located in
Western Ukraine.
Spy scandal is an act of hybrid-warfare says Vejonis
The Russian television channel NTV last week reported that Russia has expelled a Latvian
civilian aviation inspector, Andrejs Dudarevs, due to allegations of espionage. Dudarevs
allegedly worked for Western intelligence agencies for the past 20 years, but now offered
Russia insight into Latvian and NATO military secrets.
When asked about the incident, Defence Minister Raimonds Vejonis commented that the
specific case demonstrates a clear attempt to erode the trust between Latvian Armed Forces
and its NATO partners. He further added that information discrediting Latvia aims to
undermine the country’s ability to cooperate with its allies, and is a weapon of hybrid-warfare.
Russia sent Lithuania diplomatic note over Ukraine arms
On 27 February Russian Embassy in Vilnius said that Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent
Lithuania a diplomatic note over the supply of arms to Ukraine. According to the Russian
Foreign Ministry, Lithuania's representatives in the United Nations “in fact acknowledged the
fact that Vilnius is supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.” It allegedly happened
during the discussion on the UN Security Council Resolution 2202.
“Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid attention to the fact that such supply is in direct
violation of Lithuania's legal commitments on arms exports,” the note says.
According to the embassy statement, the European Union has a joint position that arms could
not be supplied if they could be used for repressions inside the country. And Ukraine is
allegedly grossly violating humanitarian law by putting cities and other residential areas in
south-eastern Ukraine under fire, using cluster bombs etc., the statement said.
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BALTICS AND AFGHANISTAN
Lithuanian military concluded one more mission in
Afghanistan
On 26 February the Protection Team of the Head of the
Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan ended their
tour of duty and returned to Lithuania. The Protection
Team was deployed in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan,
throughout the ten years of operation.
The Special Mission Protection Team was on duty 24/7
throughout the period of their mission.
BALTICS AND EXERCISES
Joint Punch Exercise held in Lithuania
Last week around 250 Lithuanian and US military
personnel were practicing offensive, defensive, security
and stabilisation tasks at Exercise Joint Punch at a training
area of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Pabrade. Around
40 combat vehicles were used for the training.
According to 1st Lieutenant Evaldas Milkintis, acting 3rd
Company Commander, the exercise had been thoroughly
planned and exercise tasks were successfully implemented by the training personnel.
According to the officer, the exercise had tested tactical skills and physical and psychological
fitness of the training audience.
An exercise for leaderships of the Special Operations Forces held in Lithuania
On 3-5 March commanders of Denmark’s, Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Poland’s, Lithuania’s, the
Netherlands’, Norway’s, Sweden’s, and Germany’s special operations forces as well as
Commander NATO Special Operations Headquarters Maj Gen Brad Webb, Commander of the
US Special Operations Command Europe Maj Gen Gregory J. Lengyel, representatives of the
SHAPE and the Allied JFC Brunssum attended an exercise arranged by the NATO Special
Operations Headquarters in Lithuania. The training event focused on the pressing issues of
security of the Baltic region and of using special operations forces.
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LITHUANIA
Lithuania's new border chief to focus on geopolitical challenges
On 5 March the newly-appointed head of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service, Renatas
Pozela, said he will focus on strengthening the service’s capabilities to respond to geopolitical
challenges and fight smuggling.
“I have also voiced my priorities during the conversation with the prime minister, and they,
with no doubt, include geopolitical challenges as the SBGS, nevertheless, is the institution
whose work marks the start of the state. So in this case, I think, we need to strengthen the
service's abilities and capabilities. (…) I would also like to mention the issue of the “shadow”
as those goods that make that “shadow” go over the Lithuanian border into the internal
market. And, with no doubt, the motivation of staff,” said Pozela.
Polish Chief of Staff paid a formal visit to Lithuania
On 4-5 March Chief of the General Staff of the Polish
Armed Forces Gen Mieczyslaw Gocul was in Lithuania on a
formal visit and discussed points of defence cooperation
and security situation in the region with Chief of Defence
of Lithuania Maj Gen Jonas Vytautas Zukas and Vice
Minister of National Defence Marijus Velicka.
At the meeting officials discussed the Lithuanian Armed
Forces and perspectives of its development, information
security threats, the NFIUs to be established in their respective countries, the rotating allied
units of ground forces training in Lithuania, the countries’ contribution to the NATO VJTF being
formed, development of LITPOLUKRBRIG and further assistance to Ukraine, and military
exercises scheduled in Lithuania and Poland in 2015.
Gen Gocul said both countries are ready to deter threats of the so-called hybrid war, indirectly
referring to the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. In his words, the hybrid
threats are relevant to both the armed forces and the entire national system, therefore, it is
very important to ensure a good connection between the army and the interior system.
Government approved conscription drafting
On 4 March Government Cabinet of Lithuania approved the draft amendment to the law on the
principal structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 2015-2020 and the limit numbers of
servicemen which was submitted by the Ministry of National Defence and allows for drafting
soldiers into 9-month Continuous Initial Mandatory Military Service. It proposes conscripting
from 3.000 to 3.500 military personnel annually.
It is still expected that the available places in the military will be filled up by volunteers and that
conscription is to be used in case there will not be enough volunteers.
Lithuanian Parliament is to consider ratification of the amendments during the spring session.
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Chief of Defence assured conscription not to involve international missions
On 4 March Lithuanian Chief of Defence Maj Gen Zukas said that according to the draft of law
amendments reintroducing conscription conscripts would not be sent to international missions
abroad, refuting rumours spread by the Russian media, which, according to Maj Gen Zukas, are
aimed at discrediting the conscription restoration idea.
Chief of Defence said the Russian media has recently started disseminating false information
that the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade project could become a pretext for sending
conscripts to Ukraine.
Lithuanian arms control inspectors in Azerbaijan
On 2-5 March arms control inspector of the Lithuanian Armed Forces took part in an inspection
of a specified area in Azerbaijan as part of a Spain-led inspection team.
Arms control inspectors of Spain, Lithuania and the United Kingdom had an opportunity to
obtain information about the activities of military divisions and combined units, their military
strength, major types and amounts of military weaponry and combat materiel systems.
The inspection is held on the basis of the Vienna Document 2011 of the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Lithuanian MPs urge government to halt privatization of ammo plant
On 3 March the Lithuanian parliament's National Security and Defence Committee has urged
the government to not rush with privatization of the debt-ridden ammunition plant of Giraite,
emphasizing its significance to national security.
The committee's chairman Arturas Paulauskas says the plant should proceed with its main
operations – production of cartridges.
“As to privatization, we have said there is no need to rush, we have to think about what type of
privatization it should be – a small part of shares, the whole package or maybe put the factory
on lease,” said Paulauskas.
LATVIA
Latvian Saeima organizes international conference on foreign and defence policy
On 5-6 March Latvian parliament hosted The Interparliamentary Conference for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, at the International
Exhibition Centre in Kipsala. The conference is the first out of six interparliamentary events in
Riga within the EU presidency’s parliamentary framework.
The conference was centred around a wide variety of issues, including refinement of the
Eastern Partnership ahead of the Riga summit in May, the hybrid-war as a new security threat
to Europe, the European response to instability and threats from the Middle East, and legal
solutions to issues pertaining to deployments of the EU Battlegroup.
The conference was attended by more than 300 parliamentarians from EU member states, the
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica
Mogherini, NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, Alexander Vershbow, and a number of
international foreign policy experts.
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Vejonis meets with NATO Deputy Secretary General Vershbow
On 5-6 March Defence Minister, Raimonds Vejonis, met with NATO’s Deputy Secretary General,
Alexander Vershbow, to discuss NATO’s presence in the Baltic Region. Besides getting
acquainted with the security situation, Vershbow also had the opportunity to discuss the
establishment of a NATO Command Centre in Latvia, and the progress of executing decisions
made during the latest NATO summit in Wales. On 5 March, Vershbow and Vejonis participated
in a parliamentary conference on joint security and defence policy. On 6 March, the Deputy
Secretary General visited the Armed Forces base in Adazi, where he met with US Army soldiers
from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
Latvia ranks high on cyber security
The Global Cyber Security Index has ranked Latvia in 7th place among countries participating in
an international survey devised by ABI Research. The index reviews a country’s cyber security
according to five criteria: Legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and cooperation.
Latvia scores high in both the legal and technical aspects of cyber security, and is ranked
among countries like Sweden and Turkey.
Status on Latvian Foreign Fighters-----------------------------Generally Latvia has only experienced few cases of Latvia
nationals participating in foreign conflicts. However, this
week Security Police reported that they were aware of one
person working for the Islamic State, whom they believed
to be in Syria, along with a Finnish foreign fighter.
Similarly, Public broadcasting of Latvia (LSM) has been in
contact with Latvian national, Beness Aijo, who claims to
be fighting on the frontline in Luhansk with the Ukrainian separatists. Aijo furthermore
asserted that as many as 50 Latvians were participating in the fighting, including the attacks on
Debaltseve.
This is the second time Aijo participates in the fighting in Ukraine. In 2014 he was arrested in
Donetsk and deported to the UK.
ESTONIA
Estonia’s foreign minister meets with Polish secretary
of state for European affairs
Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus and
Poland’s Secretary of State for European Foreign
Affairs Rafal Trzaskowski agreed at a meeting in Tallinn
that the two countries are getting along very well and
hold similar views on the topics discussed during the
meeting. Among the topics were the imprisoned Estonian Internal Security Service official
Eston Kohver, defence cooperation and development of a high-speed railway link Rail Baltic.
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Estonia’s ex-PM awarded Defence Ministry decoration
On 2 March Estonia’s Defence Minister Sven Mikser gave former Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
the Cross of Merit of Ministry of Defence, 1st class, in recognition of his long-time contribution
to the development of national defence. Mikser commented that the Ansip-led government
drew up Estonia’s first long-term national defence development plan based on realistic
resources and ensured its sustainable funding from the budget, and that this has led to Estonia
being one of the few allied nations that spends 2 percent of GNP on its military defence.
Ship carrying Dutch army hardware departs from Estonian port
On 27 February a ship taking armoured and support vehicles of the Dutch armed forces back to
their home base following a temporary deployment in Estonia started its journey toward the
Netherlands from the northwest Estonian sea port Paldiski. 100 different vehicles were loaded
onto a ship within two or three hours, and the manager of the company ESTEVE Terminal active
in the Paldiski South Port said “From the port’s viewpoint three was nothing special in handling
of the armoured vehicles – we are able to accept several times more hardware and equipment
per day than has been necessary so far”.
Developing Estonia’s eastern border to cost up to
EUR 70 million
On 26 February the Estonian government approved
the action plan to develop Estonia’s eastern border,
which will cost up to 70 million euros and run the next
four years. Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur said that
the government’s decision is a great message since
developing the state border between Estonia and
Russia is unavoidable to improve the guaranteeing
national security.
Newsletter was prepared by Aistė Aurelija Azbytė-Slott, Katja Nørgaard Hansen (intern, Tallinn),
Emil Bargmann Madsen (intern, Riga).
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