Baltic defense ministers approve cross-border defense cooperation agreement

• Published date: 27 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

TALLINN, May 27 (LETA--BNS) - The ministers of defense of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at their meeting on the Estonian island of Saaremaa on Friday approved in principle a cross-border defense cooperation agreement between the Baltic states, which, upon entry into force, will allow the three countries to quickly move and use their troops and capabilities among themselves.

ccording to Estonia's Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet, the unity of the three Baltic countries has deepened in recent months, and this was confirmed by the substantive discussions on defense cooperation that took place in Saaremaa, spokespeople for the Ministry of Defense in Tallinn said.

"As an important next step for us, we decided to approve the joint cross-border defense cooperation agreement between the Baltic states, about the preparation of which we agreed at the last meeting of the Baltic ministers of defense in Kaunas in last December," said Laanet.

When it enters into force, the agreement will allow troops and equipment to be moved across borders quickly and used for various operations in times of peace, crisis and war.

"This decision is of great practical value and has a strong deterrent effect on the adversary, as it sends a signal that the Baltic states will react jointly and...