Baltic states request €500 million from EU for counter-drone measures — ERR News
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have jointly appealed to the European Commission to provide additional EU funding for the development of counter-drone capabilities. According to the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, the three countries are requesting a total of €500 million, ERR News reports.
Joint procurement
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed to Reuters that the letter had been sent. However, he did not specify what amount Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are requesting.
According to Kaunas, the countries are considering jointly purchasing the necessary capabilities and giving preference to the European defense industry. In his view, this should strengthen the resilience of the states and cooperation in the European defense sector.
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Letter to von der Leyen
As Iltalehti writes, the letter was sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It was signed by Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem, Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis and Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas.
According to the publication's sources, the Baltic states hope that the funding will be allocated this year and that the European Commission will respond within several weeks. Reuters noted that after Ukraine intensified long-range attacks on Russia, the aggressor state, some drones entered the airspace of the Baltic countries. This heightened concerns about the possible spread of the war between Moscow and Kyiv across NATO borders.
