By Tsarizm Staff | January 4, 2020

Recent U.S. defense authorizations have committed significant funds to bolster air defense systems in the Baltic region against the perceived Russian military threat. Congress allocated $175M for medium-range systems to be installed, in addition to short-range capabilities that currently exist.

“We would like to underscore that the decision of the US Congress to allocate financing for the Baltic defense is a proof for our successful transatlantic cooperation and stability of the NATO alliance. The Latvian Defense Ministry is grateful to the US Congress for such a decision. Latvia will continue work on strengthening its airspace defense,” the ministry said, reported The Baltic Times.

The ministry reminded that the defense ministers of the Baltic states in October signed an agreement on the launch of a new configuration of the Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System (BALTNET). The agreement was signed by Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and Estonian Defense Minister Juri Luik.  

Until then, the BALTNET structure only had one control and reporting center in Karmelava, Lithuania. The agreement signed by the three defense ministers provides for setting up three separate national control and reporting centers.

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This piece originally appeared on Tsarizm.com and is used by permission.

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