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 21, 2018 PRIMARY NEWS Lithuanian Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin affiliated to the Danish Division (MoND) 23 May news: On 22 May Lithuania and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding, on affiliation of the Motorised Infantry Brigade (MIB) Griffin of the Lithuanian Armed Forces to the Royal Danish Army Division. It marks the beginning of regular participation of the staff and personnel of the MIB Griffin in Danish-arranged training and exercises. The MoU was signed during the 2018 Saber Knight exercise in Latvia, by the Lithuanian Commander of the Land Forces, Brigadier General Valdemaras Rupšys, and the Danish Chief of the Army Staff, Major General Hans-Christian Mathiesen. “The training events with brigades from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia provided by the Danish Division, not only create a multinational operational environment but are also beneficial in numerous ways for the training brigades and the Danish Division. I am fully convinced that this joint project with the Baltic States will continue in the future. A great proof of the quality of the cooperation is the present affiliation of the MIB Griffin to the Danish Division,” Chief of the Army Staff Maj Gen H. C. Mathiesen stressed. Affiliation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces MIB Griffon to the Danish Division deepens the long-standing cooperation between Lithuanian and Danish militaries and enhances the countries’ bilateral relations. Earlier when the MIB Iron Wolf was affiliated to the Danish Division, it was decided to affiliate it to the German Division when training interaction with Germany and German-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group had grown stronger. SECONDARY NEWS Baltic Defence Ministers discuss upcoming NATO summit (BNS) 24 May, the Lithuanian Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis met with his counterparts Latvian Defence Minister, Raimonds Bergmanis, and Estonian Defence Minister, Juri Luiku. The Defence Ministers focused on coordinating the countries’ positions on key issues for the upcoming NATO’s agenda, along with EU security and defence issues, and the strengthening of relations with the United States. Karoblis stated the countries must secure the continuation of the security initiatives that have been launched in the region. “The ministers of defence of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed to work together in seeking a permanent deployment of US forces in the Baltic countries, conducting military exercises with US troops (and) coordinating military procurement priorities,” the ministry said. Moscow states that border treaty will not be ratified unless Estonia change conduct (ERR) 23 May news: The Russian Embassy in Tallinn said on 23 May that Russia will not ratify the border treaty with Estonia as long as Estonia does not change its conduct against Russia. Russian Ambassador to Estonia Alexander Petrov referred to recent Estonian steps, considered unfriendly by Moscow, as hindrances to the ratification of the Estonian-Russian treaties. Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky, said in October 2016 that the Duma might ratify the border treaties with Estonia before the end of the year. No concrete steps have yet been taken in the Duma to do so. The ratified treaties will go into effect 30 days after the exchange of the letters of ratification. Saeima to review bill on adding national defence classes to high school curricula (LETA) 22 May, the Education and Science Ministry and Defence Ministry’s bill on making national defence classes mandatory in high schools was supported by Saeima Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee. According to the legislation, national defence classes will be optional until 2024, and mandatory for all high schools starting from 2024. The National Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee previously decided that theoretical national defence classes would be included in the 10th and 11th grade curriculum, and paramilitary camps would be organised in the summer after the 11th grade. Swedish Air Force to practice in Estonia for first time (BNS) 21 May news: The annual large-scale exercise of the Swedish Armed Forces AFX18 kicked off this week. The purpose of the exercise is to practice Sweden’s territorial defence. This is the first join exercise between the air forces of Estonia and Sweden after the restoration of independence. A squadron of eight JAS 39 Gripen aircraft participate in the exercise. They arrived at the Amari air base on 22 May. Along with the aircraft, approximately 100 members of the Swedish Air Force are stationed at Amari during the exercise. The exercise will end on 31 May. Newsletter was prepared by Julie Fodgaard Kristensen and Fridrikur Henriksen (interns, Vilnius), Frederik Isberg Johansen (intern, Tallinn), Niels Christian Stubben (intern, Riga) 2 .