Defense ministers of the Baltic States met in Riga to agree on the construction of defensive facilities in response to the threat of conflicts similar to that of Ukraine.
Baltic States strengthen their borders with Russia and Belarus to prevent military conflicts
The Baltic States announced on Friday the joint construction of "defensive facilities" on their borders with Russia and Belarus in order to avoid a "military conflict" in the region like the one that occurred in Ukraine.
The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia met this Friday in Riga, the Latvian capital, to ratify an agreement that began to take shape at the NATO summit that was held in Madrid in 2022.
"Russia's war in Ukraine has shown that, in addition to equipment, ammunition and manpower, or physical defenses, facilities are also needed at the border to defend Estonia from the first meter," said the country's Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur.
"We are carrying out this effort so that the people of Estonia can feel safe, but if the slightest risk arises, we would be quickly prepared for various events," Pevkur said.
According to the Estonian Ministry of Defense statement, these "defensive facilities" combine prevention and security measures, as well as other elements on the ground that support the defense to stop the aggressor troops if necessary.
"In peacetime, no explosives, sharp wires or other obstacles are placed on the Estonian border. Instead, a network of bunkers, footholds and distribution lines is established," the statement explains.
The holders of the respective Baltic Defense portfolios have also agreed to launch a joint plan to operate with HIMARS model multiple rocket launchers "both in peacetime and wartime".