Baltic Roundup | June 2024
Dear Readers,
Lithuania is marking the centenary of its Song and Dance Celebration with the theme “May the Green Forest Grow.” Some 37,000 participants and 300,000 spectators are expected to take part. Now a look back at June in the Baltic states.
Politics
While far-right parties had a strong showing elsewhere in European Parliamentary elections, in the Baltic countries liberal and centrist parties were the biggest winners. Turnout, however, was low — 37.7% in Estonia, 33.8% in Latvia, and just 28.4% in Lithuania, which held presidential elections in May. Security on the border with Russia, Politico reports, was more top of mind. Re:Baltica looked at disinformation surrounding the EU ahead of the elections.
Kaja Kallas was appointed as the next High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European External Action Service, set to succeed Josep Borrell following a confirmation in July. Her new role as the EU's chief diplomat could set her up to vie again for the top NATO position in the coming years. Kallas plans to formally resign as Estonia's prime minister in mid-July following the NATO summit in Washington, DC. Kristen Michal, Estonia's current climate minister, is likely to replace her as PM and chairman of the Reform Party.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda gave his fifth State of the Nation address, praising Lithuania's strength and progress, pointing to domestic challenges, and sidestepping issues of human rights and foreign policy.
Agnese Lāce (Progressives) was appointed Latvian minister of culture. Lāce, an expert on migration and integration, joined our podcast Baltic Ways in 2022 to discuss the situation for Ukrainian refugees in Latvia.
Security
For the Baltic Bulletin, Justina Budginaite-Froehly argues the Baltic states serve as examples for NATO allies 20 years after their inclusion. “Once inexperienced newcomers, the so-called 'one-issue' countries … have gradually turned into an exemplary NATO region.”
Vilnius signed an agreement with German defense giant Rheinmetall, which will invest 180 million euros to build a munitions factory in Lithuania to produce the NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells.
Martin Jaager became the third Estonian volunteer to die fighting in Ukraine. Five Lithuanians bringing aid to frontline troops in Ukraine were injured in an attack in the Donetsk region. For the Baltic Bulletin, Māris Andžāns looks at three years of polling on attitudes about the war in Latvia.
LRT interviewed Jonas Kadžionis, one of the last Lithuanian partisans. Kadžionis praised Ukraine's resistance against Russia's invasion, but his past experiences made him skeptical of Western promises to defend Lithuania in a future war.
Society
Rail Baltica, the high-speed rail corridor connecting the Baltic states to the European rail network, may cost €19 billion more than anticipated and could be delayed by at least five years. The project may also lose or be forced to repay EU financing, which was planned to cover the lion's share of the cost.
Kremlin propaganda related to energy independence in the Baltic states includes narratives that discredit green energy efforts, portray Baltic politicians as implementing “Washington's agenda,” and blame the Baltic states for high prices as a result of efforts to synchronize their grid with Western Europe, a study from media monitoring company Mediaskopas reported. The study analyzed nearly 4,000 pieces from Russian news websites, which, in contrast, portrays a “wealthy, generous Russia that has only benefited from Western sanctions against it.” Meanwhile, the European Union approved the 14th sanctions package on Russia and Russia has blocked 81 European news outlets in a retaliatory move, including from the Baltic countries.
Aitäh, paldies and ačiū,
Indra Ekmanis
Baltic Bulletin Editor
In Case You Missed It:
Do Baltic Russian Speakers Blame Russia for the War in Ukraine? by Māris Andžāns
Baltic Ways Podcast: Dead, But Not Forgotten: Commemoration in Medieval Livonia
The Baltic (R)evolution in Military Affairs by Justina Budginaite-Froehly