Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže concluded a working visit to Estonia on 16 May 2026 that included participation in the Lennart Meri Conference, one of Northern Europe’s most prominent forums on security and foreign policy. Speaking at the conference, she outlined four priority areas for strengthening European security: building up Europe’s military capabilities and defence industry; expanding NATO’s presence on the eastern flank; sustaining long-term support for Ukraine; and increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions and political measures.
On Russia’s military capacity, Braže was direct: “To say that the Russian army is moving at a snail’s pace would be an insult to snails. If a snail had started moving from Avdiivka in February 2022 and headed west, it would have reached Czechia by now, while Russia is still stuck in the Donbas. Ukraine has seized the initiative — we must seize this moment and strengthen our support.”
In a meeting with General Ingo Gerhartz, Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, Braže called for continued enhancement of NATO’s defence capabilities on its eastern flank, with particular emphasis on air defence in the Baltic region. Both acknowledged the importance of drawing lessons from Ukraine’s operational experience.
During bilateral talks with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the ministers agreed that the EU must continue tightening sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting sectors generating revenue — including the shadow fleet operating in Baltic waters. Estonia is currently chairing the Baltic-Nordic NB8 format, the Baltic Council of Ministers, and the Baltic Assembly.
The Lennart Meri Conference is organised by the International Centre for Defence and Security and serves as a key platform for policy debate on Baltic and European security.
