Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

Russia

Energy

Military & Security

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will cut their last major energy link to Russia on Feb. 8, transitioning from the Moscow-controlled Soviet-era BRELL grid to the Continental Europe Synchronous Area on Feb. 9, Politico reported on Feb. 6. 

Baltic States: Exit From Russia-Controlled Grid To Heighten Hybrid Threat Risks

Sweden

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Swedish authorities seized and boarded a vessel as part of a preliminary investigation into a suspected sabotage incident of a fiber-optic sea cable in the Baltic Sea connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland that occurred on Jan. 26, AP reported the next day. 

Europe: Officials Seize Vessel, Investigate Latest Sea Cable Incident as Sabotage

Germany

Finland

France

Romania

Spain

Italy

Politics

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her team of Commissioners, a press release by the Commission shows Sept. 17. 

EU: Von der Leyen Unveils New European Commission

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

On Sept. 8, a Russian military drone crashed inside Latvia 60 miles from the country's border with Belarus, from where it entered, Reuters reported Sept. 9.

Latvia, Russia: Russian Drone Violates Latvian Airspace 

Luxembourg

Malta

Czech Republic

Denmark

Greece

Belgium

Bulgaria

Portugal

Poland

Croatia

Cyprus

Austria

Slovakia

Slovenia

Netherlands

Ireland

Hungary

The European Commission recommended reducing the European Union's net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, Reuters reported Feb. 6. 

EU: Brussels to Exclude Agriculture from 90% Emissions Reduction Target for 2040

Ukraine

European Union member states unanimously agreed to a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) financial support package for Ukraine as part of their joint budget through 2027, for which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lifted his veto on the initiative, Reuters reported Feb. 1.

EU, Ukraine: EU Leaders Unanimously Agree to New 50 Billion Euro Aid Package for Kyiv

Negotiators from EU member states and the European Parliament reached a preliminary agreement to overhaul the bloc's asylum and migration rules, Reuters reported on Dec. 20.

EU: Bloc's Institutions Reach Agreements on New Asylum and Migration Rules

The European Union is "unlikely" or "very unlikely" to meet most of its 2030 green objectives, according to the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) published Dec. 18.

EU: Bloc to Miss Most of its 2030 Climate Goals

Snapshots

United States

China

United Kingdom

Members of the European Parliament take part in voting on the Artificial Intelligence Act during a plenary session at the European Parliament.

Cyber

The EU's recently negotiated Artificial Intelligence Act will bolster the European Union's dominance as a regulatory heavyweight in emerging technologies, yet anticipated enforcement challenges and stringent stipulations with the Act risk impeding AI innovation within the bloc.

EU Lawmakers Clinch Agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act 

Europe

Rail cars loaded with steel sit at the ThyssenKrupp Schwelgern steel plant on May 30, 2018 in Duisburg, Germany. 

Economics

The European Union and the United States will increase efforts to deconflict their trade and climate policies ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential and EU parliamentary elections, but lingering disagreements will not allow for a complete respite of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminum.

EU-U.S. Steel and Aluminum Negotiations Make Limited Headway

Belarus

A woman sits by the entrance to the GUM department store in central Minsk on February 14, 2023.

Though Belarus is showing economic recovery in the short term, a number of structural issues will undermine its long-term growth prospects.

Belarus' Tentative Recovery Won’t Ensure Future Growth -– Or Kick-Start the Opposition

A satellite image shows Europe at night.

Security

EU: Regional Blocs

The New Silk Road

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The move shows the White House remains committed to its security and economic engagements in the region, with an eye on countering China and Russia. 

The U.S. Ramps Up Financial Support to Central and Eastern Europe

Assessments

The Russian 9M729 intermediate-range cruise missile was developed in secret had been deployed in small numbers even before the IMF Treaty became defunct.

Echoes of the Cold War

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Moscow would couple any new deployments of its intermediate-range missiles with rhetoric blaming the United States for the treaty's collapse and subsequent weapons buildups.

Russia Approaches a Post-INF Arms Race in Europe With Caution

Global Perspectives

Partner Perspectives

A post marks the beginning of Polish territory on its border with Lithuania.

The U.S. and its NATO allies are looking for new ways to deter Russian aggression against the Baltic states. But policymakers and defense planners have yet to agree on Moscow's intentions in the region.

Threading the Needle Through the Suwalki Gap

Columns

On Geopolitics

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (center) and representatives of the Three Seas Initiative take part in a summit on Sept. 18 in Romania.

In many ways, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have never had it so good economically and politically. But brewing problems to the east and west have given them cause for disquiet. 

The Baltic Nations Look Abroad and See Problems

Guidance

Latvian central banking chief Ilmars Rimsevics has said accusations that he accepted bribes are untrue.

With the country's third-largest bank teetering on the edge of insolvency and corruption accusations dogging its central banking chief, Russia stands ready to exploit any financial or political fallout.

What to Watch for as Two Banking Scandals Unfold in Latvia

Reflections

Montenegro

Georgia

With visits to Estonia, Georgia and Montenegro, the tour by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is meant to reassure nervous allies on the front lines of the Russia-West standoff.

On his visit to Europe's borderlands, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reassured allies that Washington supports them against Moscow.

The U.S. Offers Cool Comfort as Tension With Russia Heats Up

Bosnia and Herzegovina

North Macedonia

Serbia

Albania

Supply Chains

China in Transition

Despite its goal to foster integration throughout Eurasia, Beijing has so far emphasized bilateral or subregional agreements with its Belt and Road projects in Europe, an approach that has raised the suspicions of the bloc's central powers.

For China, All Roads (and Belts) Lead to Europe

China's Belt and Road Initiative

Azerbaijan

Turkey

Picking Up Where the West Leaves Off

Eastern European and Eurasian states will have to fend for themselves. 

A Wary Germany Keeps an Eye on the U.S. Transition

The direction of future White House policy will steer the future strategies of the EU leader.

Latvia is a country in Northeast Europe bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. Latvia is mostly flat and contains primarily short rivers, with woodlands that cover around half of the country and few rivers that exceed 60 miles.     Riga is Latvia's most populated city, as well as its economic and political core. The city's strategic position on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of the Daugava river, has traditionally made it an important trading post in northern Europe. Indeed, Riga was a member of the Hanseatic League, a confederation of market towns, in the 13th century.     However, Latvia is also surrounded by major powers and is easy to invade. For centuries, Latvia was under the influence or direct control of its neighbors, including German crusaders, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. Latvia briefly became independent after World War I, but was absorbed by the Soviet Union during World War II and did not regain its independence until 1991.     Since then, Latvia has sought to integrate with the West. It joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, and the eurozone in 2014. Membership in these organizations forced Latvia to undergo rapid institutional modernization and economic liberalization. Currently, the country's economy relies primarily on exports.     Latvia's main geopolitical challenge has traditionally been preventing foreign aggression. In this regard, modern Latvia's primary concern is Russia. Latvia view membership with the European Union and NATO, as well as its ties with the United States, to guard against Russian interference. Still, Latvia imports the majority of its natural gas from Russia, and Russian money has a significant presence in Latvia's banking sector. Moreover, roughly a quarter of Latvia's population speaks Russian, and their status is often a source of friction between Russia and Latvia. 

SITUATION REPORTS

Baltic States: Exit From Russia-Controlled Grid To Heighten Hybrid Threat Risks

Europe: Officials Seize Vessel, Investigate Latest Sea Cable Incident as Sabotage

EU: Von der Leyen Unveils New European Commission

Latvia, Russia: Russian Drone Violates Latvian Airspace

EU: Brussels to Exclude Agriculture from 90% Emissions Reduction Target for 2040

EU, Ukraine: EU Leaders Unanimously Agree to New 50 Billion Euro Aid Package for Kyiv

EU: Bloc's Institutions Reach Agreements on New Asylum and Migration Rules

EU: Bloc to Miss Most of its 2030 Climate Goals

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