The Armed Forces of the Baltic States Will Improve Target Identification Together 0 9

This is provided for in a joint declaration on strengthening defense cooperation, signed on Friday in Tallinn by the commanders of the armies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The declaration reached an agreement to continue work on creating a permanent coordination mechanism for target identification, strengthening the regional military logistics system, expanding capabilities for monitoring air and maritime space, and implementing the Baltic Defense Line project.

"Monitoring airspace and defense, ensuring maritime situational awareness, information sharing, military education at the Baltic Defence College, as well as the establishment of the Baltic Defense Line are areas where we must act as one team. The security challenges of our region are common, so the response to threats must be coordinated and swift," stated the Chief of Defense of Lithuania, Raimundas Karoblis.

The delegations also presented the latest achievements in developing national defense capabilities, discussed the regional security situation, continued assistance to Ukraine, and further directions for cooperation among the Baltic states.

According to the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Andrus Merilo, a unified increase in defense capabilities is crucial in the constantly changing security environment in which the Baltic states currently operate.

"Although there is no direct military threat to our region, we need to act and do everything possible to prevent its emergence in the future. The meeting clearly demonstrated that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are coordinating, swiftly, and decisively developing their defense capabilities," said Merilo.

The declaration was signed by the commanders of the Baltic states' armed forces after Lithuanian airports were closed several times in the past two weeks due to the threat of smuggler balloons, affecting more than 190 flights and around 30,000 passengers.

Lithuanian leadership describes the launches of balloons into the country's airspace as a hybrid attack from Minsk. As a result, Vilnius closed the border with Belarus for a month, making several exceptions for travelers.

The Baltic Defense Line is a long-term plan of counter-mobility measures in the Baltic states and Poland aimed at reducing the threats of land invasion.

Meetings of the commanders of the armed forces of the Baltic states are held annually in each of the three countries in turn. This year, the event was organized by the Estonian Defence Forces.