Estonian PM: We can only protect our critical infrastructure by working together

TALLINN - Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized after the Baltic prime ministers' meeting in Lithuania on Friday that effective protection of critical infrastructure requires close cooperation with allies and partners.

The Baltic leaders discussed the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, countering hybrid threats, continued support for Ukraine, and joint energy and transport projects.

"The recent damages to the Lithuania-Sweden and Finland-Germany cables in the Baltic Sea have once again highlighted the importance of protecting our critical undersea infrastructure. While the causes are still under investigation, the broader context calls for heightened vigilance. Our response must be unified and decisive," Michal said. He added that this challenge will also be a key topic at the upcoming meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force leaders in December in Tallinn.

Michal underscored the importance of joint efforts in advancing Baltic infrastructure projects.

"The completion of Rail Baltic is crucial not only for the EU's internal market but also for its security. We must work together to secure the maximum possible funding for the project so that trains can operate between Tallinn and Warsaw by 2030," he said. "In Estonia, we have allocated an additional 197 million euros for the construction of the main track and 75 million euros for a train depot to ensure that our part of the mainline is completed on time, or even slightly ahead of schedule."

The meeting also confirmed the need for close coordination to successfully complete the desynchronization of the Baltic electricity grids from the Russian system.

Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė also discussed the situation in Ukraine.

"Russia's missile strikes in response to diplomacy have once again confirmed what we already know -- attempts to negotiate with Putin will not bring lasting and just peace any closer. Instead, we must increase military aid to Ukraine, lift unnecessary usage restrictions on weapons systems, and implement Ukraine's plan for victory. This will help Ukraine seize the initiative and lay the groundwork for fair peace negotiations," Michal said.

During the meeting, the Baltic prime ministers also adopted a joint declaration to develop a regional list of battlefield-related goods and ban their export to Russia and Belarus through the Baltic states.

The meeting in Vilnius marked the conclusion of Lithuania's chairmanship of the Baltic Council of Ministers. Next year, Latvia will take over the chairmanship, with priorities including regional security and resilience, supporting Ukraine, improving regional connectivity, strengthening energy security, and fostering investment in the Baltic region.