Royal Danish Embassy T. Kosciuskos 36, LT-01100 Vilnius Tel: +370 (5) 264 8768 Mob: +370 6995 7760 The Defence Attaché To Fax: +370 (5) 231 2300 Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania Newsletter for the Baltics Week 33, 2018 PRIMARY NEWS US attempts to bolster Baltic air defence capabilities (BNS) 13-14 August news: American army engineers are finishing installing a NATO-standard aviation shooting range area near the southeastern Lithuanian city of Kazlu Ruda. Defence experts say this area is important for bolstering air defence and protecting the so-called Suwalki Corridor, a strip of the Lithuanian-Polish border, considered NATO’s Achilles Heel. The newly installed training area will make it possible to train NATO ground and air personnel cooperation. Additionally, next year’s US defence budget law will call for a change in the NATO Baltic air-policing mission’s mandate, into that of an air defence mission. The air policing mission’s transition to an air defence mission would mean that fighter jets stationed in the Baltic mission for air policing would be able to carry out combat tasks in case of a crisis. SECONDARY NEWS Defence Forces fail to find Spanish Eurofighter missile in Endla reserve. (ERR) August 12 news: Commander of the Air Force, Col. Riivo Valge states that the missing missile could have penetrated the ground in the bog, and questions whether it will be discovered at all. Regardless, the Air Force will continue the search. Lithuanian government approves new cyber security strategy (BNS) 13 August news: Lithuania’s government approved a new national cyber security strategy. The document identifies five goals, including bolstering cyber resistance and defence capabilities, stepping up fight against online crimes, promoting a cyber security culture and innovations, promoting closer cooperation between the private and public sectors and strengthening international cooperation. Lithuania’s intelligence services say the majority of hostile cyber activity is linked to Russia. Joint base of Latvian Naval Forces to be set up in Daugavgriva (BNS) August 13 news: A joint base of the Latvian Naval Forces will be created in Daugavgriva, Riga. After the reconstruction, the naval base will accommodate the Riga-based naval units, including the Coast Guard Service, which is currently based in Vecmilgravis. Construction works at the site are expected to begin 2020 and the project is scheduled for completion in 2021. Newsletter was prepared by Sara Hejgaard Elsborg and Niklas Albertsen Nedergaard (interns, Vilnius), Anders Fogh Mikkelsen (intern, Tallinn), Julie Lykke-Nedergaard (intern, Riga) 2 .