The voluntary forces’ role within the security systems of the Baltic countries: dissimilar but cohesive

• Authors: Edgars Allers , Zdzisław Śliwa

Abstracts

EN

The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, gained independence for the second time in the late 20th century, and are now investing in the whole society’s approach to defence, recognizing the threat from Russia, especially after the wars in Georgia (2007/8) and Ukraine (2014, 2022). Voluntary territorial defence forces are an important constituent of their national defence strategies. This paper aims to analyse these forces as an integral component of national security, based on a close connection with society, armed forces, and government. The similarities and differences between the three different volunteer forces will be highlighted and ultimately proven how they are strongly embedded in national and regional security setup, while also enhancing cross-border cooperation.

Keywords

EN

territorial defence forces; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; security

• Publisher: Krakowska Akademia im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego
• Journal: Bezpieczeństwo. Teoria i Praktyka
• Year: 2022
• Volume: XLVIII
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 173-186

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Edgars Allers

• Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia

author

Zdzisław Śliwa

• Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia

References

• Andžāns M., Veebel V., “Deterrence Dilemma in Latvia and Estonia: Finding the Balance between External Military Solidarity and Territorial Defense”, Journal on Baltic Security, vol. 3, no. 2, 2017, pp. 29–41.
• Baltic News Service, “Estonia: national defense camps will be organised by the Defense League, the Press release of the Estonian Defence Ministry”, Tallinn, 26 April 2021.
• Baltic News Service, “Herem: Estonia, Switzerland complement each other in field of reserve army”, Tallinn, 26 April 2021.
• “Baltics sign joint military command agreement”, 19 February 2015, Eng.LSM.lv – Public broadcasting of Latvia, https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/baltics-sign-joint-militarycommand-agreement.a118475/ [accessed: 17 November 2021].
• “Deterrence and defence”, 26 April 2021, NATO, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_133127.htm [accessed: 15 November 2021].
• “Estonian Defence League”, http://www.kaitseliit.ee/en/edl [accessed: 20 November 2021].
• “Exercise Siil 2018 – Allies Defending Estonia”, Joint Forces – News, 18 July 2018, https://www.joint-forces.com/exercise-news/15960-exercise-siil-2018-allies-defending-estonia [accessed:17 February 2022].
• Flanagan S. et al., Deterring Russian Aggression in the Baltic States through Resilience and Resistance,Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2019.
• “Headquarters Multinational Division North inaugurated in Latvia”, Republic of Estonia, Ministry of Defence, 11 March 2019, https://kaitseministeerium.ee/en/news/headquartersmultinational-division-north-inaugurated-latvia [accessed: 14 December 2021].
• Kaljurand R. et al., Developments in the Security Environment of the Baltic Sea Region up to 2020,Tallinn: International Centre for Defence and Security, September 2012.
• Lithuanian Centre of Non-formal Youth Education, https://www.lmnsc.lt/en [accessed: 23 December 2021].
• Lithuanian Guerrilla Warfare Manual – Translated to English, Breach Bang Clear, 2 November2016, https://www.breachbangclear.com/lithuanian-guerrilla-warfare-manual-translated-toenglish [accessed: 23 November 2021].
• Łapszewicz B., “Obchody 28. rocznicy utworzenia Ochotniczych Sił Obrony Kraju”, KurierWileński, 17 January 2019, https://kurierwilenski.lt/2019/01/17/obchody-28-rocznicyutworzenia-ochotniczych-sil-obrony-kraju [accessed: 24 November 2021].
• Małysa T., “Wojska obrony terytorialnej w państwach bałtyckich”, Bezpieczeństwo. Teoria i Praktyka, no. 3, 2017, pp. 225–236.
• Martinaitienė J., “Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force strengthens cooperation with Latvian and Estonian counterparts”, Lithuanian Armed Forces, 17 January 2018, https://kariuomene.lt/en/lithuanian-national-defence-volunteer-force-strengthens-cooperation-with-latvian-and-estonian-counterparts/14479 [accessed: 24 November 2021].
• Ministry of Defence, Estonian defence budget 2021, last updated 26 April 2021, https://kaitseministeerium.ee/en/objectives-activities/defence-budget [accessed: 20 November 2021].
• Ministry of Defence, Estonian Military Defence 2026, Tallinn, June 2017, https://kaitseministeerium.ee/sites/default/files/sisulehed/eesmargid_tegevused/rkak2026-a6-spreads_eng-v6.pdf [accessed: 17 November 2021].
• Ministry of Defence, National Defence Action Plan 2019–2022, updated 22 February 2018, http://www.kaitseministeerium.ee/en/objectives-activities/defence-planning/national-defenceaction-plan-2019-2022 [accessed: 29 November 2021].
• Ministry of National Defence, “New Statute on Use of Military Force will allow to immediately use Armed Forces in response to non-conventional threats in peacetime”, 16 December 2014, http://kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2014/
• news_archive_2014_-_12/new_statute_on_use_of_military_force_will_allow_to_immediately_use_armed_forces_in_response_to_non-conventional_threats_in_peacetime[accessed: 21 January 2022].
• Ministry of Defence, The National Security Concept of Estonia, Tallinn 2017, https://kaitseministeerium.ee/sites/default/files/elfinder/article_files/national_security_concept_2017_0.pdf [accessed: 20 November 2021].
• Paulauskas K., “On Deterrence”, NATO Review, 5 August 2016, https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2016/08/05/on-deterrence/index.html [accessed: 15 November 2021].
• “Resilience and Article 3”, NATO, 25 June 2018, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_132722.htm [accessed: 24 November 2021].
• Saeima, The National Guard of the Republic of Latvia Law, Riga, 26 May 2010, section 2.
• Saeima, The State Defence Concept, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, Riga, 24 September 2020.
• Seimas, The Republic of Lithuania Law on the Organisation of the National Defence System and Military Service, Vilnius, 5 May 1998, amendments in 1999.
• Szymański P., Gotkowska J., “The Baltic states’ Territorial Defence Forces in the face of hybrid threats”, OSW Commentary, no. 165, 19 March 2015.
• The Estonian Defence League Act, Riigikogu, Tallinn, passed 28 February 2013, Riigi Teataja, https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/525112013006/consolide [accessed: 14 December 2021].
• The National Defence Volunteer Forces, Karys.lt, 1 June 2020, https://www.karys.lt/en/militaryservice/ndvf/402 [accessed: 21 January 2022].
• The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia, On the National Guard of the Republic of Latvia, 1993, with amendments from 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, and 2003, https://www.vvc.gov.lv/export/sites/default/docs/LRTA/Citi/On_the_National_Guard_of_the_Republic_of_Latvia_.doc [accessed: 22 December 2021].
• Vahtla A., “Ministry of Defence approves 2020–2023 development plan”, ERR News, 2 February2019, https://news.err.ee/906911/ministry-of-defence-approves-2020-2023-developmentplan [accessed: 22 December 2021].
• „WOT: zacieśniamy współpracę z Estonią” [interview with Col. Marek Oliwkowski, Polish territorial defence forces headquarters], 18 July 2018, Polska Zbrojna, http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/home/articleshow/25900?t=WOT-zaciesniamy-wspolprace-z-Estonia- [accessed: 15 November 2021].

Identifiers

DOI

10.48269/2451-0718-btip-2022-3-012

Biblioteka Nauki

2165705