Welcome to the Riga and the Baltic military-industrial complex
Good morning. Angela Skujins penning this Friday newsletter from the bitter Baltics, where I’ve just spent the last few days immersed in beetroot soup, battlefield tactics and the scintillating spirit of the rīdzinieki, aka Rigan people.
The Riga Conference has brought attention to the ongoing security and defense concerns in the Baltic region. Latvia, a small nation that has experienced centuries of foreign domination, is particularly attuned to the reality of Russian aggression, especially in the context of Ukraine's ongoing war. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, shared with reporters that Europe must address the concerns expressed by Kyiv regarding hybrid warfare tactics such as cable cuts, arson, and drone attacks.
European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, a former Latvian Prime Minister, emphasized the need for a detailed assessment of Ukraine's budgetary requirements, as Ukraine has requested €23 billion in additional funding to support its defense and economic needs. Meanwhile, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, addressed the complex relationship between Israel and its allies, particularly in light of recent tensions in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to meet with 27 ambassadors in Brussels to discuss her priorities and the upcoming State of the European Union speech, which is expected to emphasize social media restrictions for children.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
