Baltic States in March 2026: the most important developments in politics
The Strait of Hormuz and the wider Iran conflict dominated the politics of the Baltic States in March 2026, mostly through the voice of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, an Estonian. On 16 March she said the EU is discussing a UN-backed plan to help secure the strait, using a model similar to one used in the Black Sea, and that there is currently "no appetite" among member states to expand an existing EU naval mission to cover the route. President Donald Trump reportedly called for a maritime coalition in the region. Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said on 19 March that the conflict is also Europe's concern and called for unity as divisions among US allies over a Hormuz mission grow. Kallas also accused the United States, in an interview with the Financial Times, of trying to divide Europe, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called for her to be replaced.
Ukraine and Hungary formed the second theme. On 19 March Kallas said the EU has legal tools to bypass a Hungarian veto on financial aid for Ukraine and urged the EU to act to prevent a Ukrainian capitulation. Estonia ratified the convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine and joined 21 other countries in an appeal against Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale.
Relations with Belarus and drone incidents drew attention. A US special envoy said Washington seeks better relations between Belarus and Lithuania, as Minsk released 250 prisoners and the United States agreed to sanctions relief; Lithuania's prime minister was dismissive of a meeting between Lithuanian carriers and Belarusian officials. The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into alleged crimes committed in Minsk against the Belarusian opposition in Lithuania. On 25 March Lithuania said it was coordinating with Ukraine after a drone crashed near Varėna, Latvia sent Russia a diplomatic note over a Ukrainian drone incident on its territory, and Estonian opposition politicians criticised drone defences after an incident at the Auvere power plant.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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