Baltic states planning to start motivating NATO countries at The Hague summit

TALLINN - The defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who met at the Ämari air base on Friday, agreed that the three countries will begin applying for funding from European funds to strengthen their defense capabilities and that their defense needs must be clearly presented to other NATO countries at the summit in The Hague on June 24-25, the daily Postimees writes.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that the three Baltic states have a similar approach to defense and a common understanding that Russia is a permanent threat that will not disappear on its own. The Baltic states are going to the NATO summit with a joint message that the goal must be to reach the 5 percent defense spending level as soon as possible. Estonia will reach this level already next year.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds also emphasized that the three countries share similar understandings and mindsets and can achieve real results through cooperation. Latvia is also moving towards a 5 percent defense spending target.

"In terms of capabilities, we are moving forward with a fairly clear agenda and we have a similar understanding of the approach -- starting with air defense and ammunition, ending with high technology," Sprūds added.

He noted that the Baltic states are setting an example in cooperation and NATO is very important for Latvia.

"Europe needs to increase its financial contribution and we encourage our European partners to do so," the minister added.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė highlighted that the Baltic states have become allies who understand that defense spending is a critical issue without options. Lithuania's defense budget is already 4 percent of GDP this year and is planned to reach between 5 and 6 percent over the next five years. She noted that the Lithuanian parliament is discussing a tax reform that should add 900 million euros to defense capacity over two years.

"It is important for us that the issue of defense spending is not pushed aside in The Hague and that things that are not actually related to defense are not included in the budget -- just to show pretty numbers," she added.

Pevkur also emphasized the importance of joint projects that the three countries are implementing together -- such as the establishment of the Baltic defense zone and the Baltic Defense College. In addition, according to Pevkur, there are plans to start jointly applying for funding from European funds.

"We asked our defense chiefs to meet quickly and present proposals to the political level on capabilities that we could jointly acquire with the help of European funds," Pevkur said.

He added that the establishment of the Baltic defense zone will also continue, for which it is also planned to request funding from Europe.

Issues pertaining to the shadow fleet and the Baltic Sea infrastructure were also discussed.

"We are looking at what we can do more at the European level, because this is not just a problem for the Baltic states, but a concern for everyone," Pevkur said.