On January 15, 2025, HCSS hosted the symposium ‘The Baltic Defence Line: Strengthening the Defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank’. HCSS was honoured to welcome the Dutch Minister of Defence Mr. Ruben Brekelmans and his three colleagues from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: Defence Ministers Mr. Hanno Pevkur, Mr. Andris Sprūds and Ms. Dovilė Šakalienė.
This symposium featured a keynote by Minister Brekelmans, a panel with the four defence ministers, a press moment with the four defence ministers, and a military panel in the afternoon with defence experts from the three visiting Allies.
HCSS Strategic Analyst Davis Ellison briefly spoke to one of the military panelists, Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev from the Estonain Defence Forces just after the event. They discussed preparedness during peace time, Estonian preparations, coordination efforts between the three Baltic states, lessons learned from the Ukrainian armed forces and being ready for new threats.
HCSS Strategic Analyst Davis Ellison interviews Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev. Watch the full interview below.
Experts
Related Content
