#Baltic companies issued a record EUR 6.68bn in #bonds in 2025, which was more than double from 2024. At the same time, the Baltic #IPO market remained dormant. Meanwhile, Baltic #startups raised a total of EUR 607mn of new funding in 2025, which was up from EUR 505mn in 2024.
The parliament in #Estonia is due to hold the next presidential #election on 2-3 September 2026. If the #parliament fails to elect a new #president, the election will then move to the electoral college. Incumbent president Alar Karis may decide not to run for a second term.
The foreign #trade turnover of #Latvia totalled EUR 42.73bn in 2025, which was up 5.4% from 2024, the Central Statistical Bureau reported. The total value of #exports amounted to EUR 19.54bn (up 3.7%) and #imports to EUR 23.19bn (up 6.9%).
Lithuanian PM Inga Ruginiene called for renaming the Taiwanese Representative Office in #Vilnius to #Taipei Representative Office. Seeking to restore ties with communist #China, she argued that #Lithuania should focus on national interests rather than on "supposed or imagined values."
#Corruption remained considerably lower in #Estonia than in #Latvia and #Lithuania in 2025, according to Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index. Estonia ranked 12th on the index, followed by Lithuania on 28th and Latvia on 37th place.
Lithuania's opposition Union of Democrats for #Lithuania retains its trust in the party chairman, former PM Saulius Skvernelis, deputy chairman Virginijus Sinkevicius assured. Earlier, #police searched the homes and offices of Skvernelis and another MP as part of a #corruption investigation.
Construction output in #Latvia rose by 9% on year in 2025, the Central Statistical Bureau reported. In Q4/2025, #construction output increased by 9.9% over a year and 2.4% over a quarter.
Recent remarks by President Karis of #Estonia have led to questions about Estonia's position on the #war in #Ukraine, Foreign Minister Tsahkna said. Karis's suggestion of talks with #Russia, lifting #sanctions, and for Ukraine to give up land had made it hard to look Ukrainians in the eye, he noted.
The Special Investigation Service (STT) of #Lithuania has searched the offices and homes of two opposition MPs, former PM Saulius Skvernelis and ex-agriculture minister Kazys Starkevicius, as part of a #corruption probe. STT is investigating possible bribery at the State Plant Service.
In #Latvia, the pro-Russian opposition party, For Stability, may be dissolved by court order. Earlier, the party refused to comply with the Prosecution Office's order to remove #socialmedia content that violated the #law on political parties.
President Alar Karis of #Estonia assured that Estonia's #foreignpolicy was united, yet doubled down on his controversial comments on the #war in #Ukraine. Earlier, Karis backed appointing a special EU envoy for #peace talks with #Russia and suggested that Ukraine cede territory to end the war.
The water level in the #Baltic Sea has fallen to one of the lowest levels in recorded history. The low #water level allows cleaner, saltier, and more oxygen-rich water to flow from the North Sea into the Baltic #Sea.
#China remains open to dialogue with #Lithuania, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated. Earlier, Lithuanian PM Inga Ruginiene said that the previous #government had made a mistake in allowing the opening of a Taiwanese Representative Office in #Vilnius.
All but two mayors of local governments in #Latvia have been granted access to state secrets as required by law. The State Security Service refused #security clearances to Aleksandrs Bartasevics, chairman of the #Rezekne city council, and Gatis Truksnis, former mayor of #Jurmala.
The city council of #Tallinn, capital of #Estonia, has approved the city #budget for 2026. Total revenue is planned at EUR 1.2bn and expenditure at EUR 1.1bn. Tallinn is governed by a coalition of the Estonian Centre Party and Fatherland.
Authorities in #Latvia and #Lithuania have opened investigations into possible human trafficking based on information in documents related to convicted US sex trafficker Jeffrey #Epstein. The files contain hundreds of references to Epstein's connections in the #Baltic states.
Officials in #Lithuania have been making public statements suggesting a possible rapprochement in relations with #Belarus. Observers say that the officials may be testing whether Lithuanian public opinion on Belarus is changing.
State-owned and municipal companies in #Latvia involved in critical #infrastructure have begun dismissing citizens of #Russia and #Belarus. Under amendments to the law on national #security, #Russians and #Belarusians may not be employed in jobs with access to critical infrastructure.
Authorities in #Estonia have released a Bahamian-flagged container ship stopped earlier on suspicion of drug #smuggling. The Estonian Tax and Customs Board found no #narcotics on board the vessel, which was en route from #Ecuador to #Russia.
Lithuanian PM Inga Ruginiene criticised the previous government's decision to allow #Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in #Vilnius. She said that #Lithuania "jumped in front of the train" when it allowed Taiwan to open the representative office without coordinating the move with the EU and the US.
The #Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau of #Latvia has questioned more than 60 officials as part of a criminal investigation into the implementation of the Rail Baltica #railway project. The officials are suspected of causing significant losses to the state #budget.
#Estonia will close two more crossing points on the #border with #Russia at night as of 24 February 2026, initially for three months. PM Kristen Michal pointed to Russia's "irrational behaviour" as the reason for the move.
President Alar Karis of #Estonia and PM Evika Silina of #Latvia called for a special EU envoy for talks with #Russia. Also, Karis suggested that #Ukraine cede territory to stop the #war. Estonian PM Kristen Michal stated that Karis's remarks clashed with Estonia's #foreignpolicy and core values.
PM Kristen Michal of #Estonia urged #Latvia to build its part of the Rail Baltica #railway by 2030 as agreed. Earlier, Maris Dzelme, board chair of Latvia's project management company, EDZL, suggested that the completion of the first phase of the railway could be delayed by 3-5 years.
#Klaipeda State Seaport in #Lithuania has begun a #procurement process for contractors in the first phase of a project to develop the port's southern area. The project will be the largest ever in the port's history.
Industrial #production output in #Latvia increased by 4.0% over a year in 2025, the Central Statistical Bureau reported. Output in #manufacturing rose by 5.5% on year. Manufacturing turnover increased by 6.1% in 2025.
The national-conservative #opposition party in #Estonia, Fatherland, kept its steady lead in #polls in January 2026, according to Norstat's latest #survey. Fatherland's support stood at 26.4%, followed by the Estonian Centre Party with 20.7% and the Estonian Reform Party with 15.2%.
The US Congress has approved USD 200mn in #security assistance to #Estonia, #Latvia, and #Lithuania under the #Baltic Security Initiative in 2026. Also, the US has provided the Baltic countries #defence aid under the Department of State's Foreign #Military Financing programme.
