During the meeting in Daugavpils, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds played host to Minister of Defense of Lithuania Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Minister of Defense of Estonia Hanno Pevkur and Deputy State Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Defense Stanisław Wziątek.
The four "discussed the work done so far in the creation of the Baltic defense line and in strengthening air defense capabilities," according to the account of the Latvian Ministry of Defense.
"The national armed forces have deployed additional air defense units in Latgale [Latvia's easternmost region], strengthening both airspace surveillance and strike capabilities. We are facing serious threats from Russia and drone challenges are our new reality. Therefore, the countries of the Baltic region are jointly motivating NATO allies to implement the previously adopted collective decisions to strengthen the external borders of the alliance, including its airspace", said Sprūds after the meeting.
The participants of the meeting also held a remote meeting with NATO officials to discuss the possibilities of attracting NATO funding for joint projects, as well as the strengthening of the Baltic airspace patrol mission and the introduction of the air defense rotation model. Ukrainian colleagues also shared practical experience on strengthening land borders.
Meeting for the first time in this format, the defense ministers at the end of the meeting agreed on further regular cooperation to strengthen the eastern flank of the alliance, as well as on a specific road map for the creation of the Baltic defense line, attracting the support of NATO and the EU.
As previously reported, the Baltic defense line is an effort to create a secure, fortified border along the entire length of the region's borders with aggressor states Russia and Belarus.
