Other events in Baltic States

Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Defense Forces chiefs Ants Laaneots, Raimonds Graube and Arvydas Pocius discussed on Tuesday in Otepaa, South East Estonia, military cooperation for the next year, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

“We discussed next year’s cooperation plans,” said General Laaneots. “We discussed how we will coordinate defense planning and how we can participate in each others’ exercises, for example our Southern neighbors in our Spring Storm, and how we could use practice grounds together, for example, Latvia’s Adazi.”

General Laaneots said that focus of the navy cooperation on the NATO minesweeping squadron, instead of the three state joint navy squadron BALTRON was thoroughly discussed, which is Estonia’s clear preference in developing the navy and guaranteeing safety of ship traffic at the Baltic Sea.

The three states defense cooperation plans for the next year were signed in Otepää. Among future plans, the trilateral joint exercises and exercises with other NATO states for the next five years were discussed.

Lithuanian Defense Forces chief, Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius gave General Laaneots Lithuanian defense forces services badge.

General Laaneots handed management of the Baltic military committee over to Latvian defense forces chief, Major General Raimonds Graube.