Baltic States Defence and Security - the Unhappy Reality

Glen Grant

Former Defence Attaché Helsinki, Tallinn and Riga, And NATO liaison officer in the Balkans

What did we expect ?

What we got!

But we were warned life would be rough!

The Baltic Sea Area Reality

• Baltic military co-operation a damp squid and little else. • Estonia militarily proud, arrogant and hopelessly out of

touch. Still thinking in 1914.• Lithuania trying really hard but politically wants more

than it can afford• Finland – grappling with history and Tarja Halonen –

would fight if they were allowed – Army now going stale• Sweden – Air Force and Navy good but Army living in a

military fantasy world untouched by reality• Poland – perhaps the only regional military hope

So where does this place Latvia?

What to do?