Defense
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Estonia Assumes NB8 Lead, Pushes Schengen Ban for Fighters
With Tallinn taking the helm of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, Estonia's defense minister met his Danish counterpart to coordinate on countering Russia's shadow fleet and expanding NATO cooperation in the Arctic.
- —Estonian and Danish defense ministers met during the Danish royal couple's state visit to Estonia, discussing peace in Ukraine, shadow fleet issues, and NATO Arctic cooperation.
- —Estonia's Foreign Minister emphasized the need for continued European pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure and air defense capabilities.
- —Estonia is advocating for an EU-wide ban on entry to the Schengen area for Russian fighters who fought in Ukraine, having already added 261 individuals to its national entry ban list.
- —Estonia officially assumed the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) presidency from Denmark, pledging to continue strengthening regional security and support for Ukraine.
Recap
Estonia is leveraging its new leadership of the NB8 to translate regional security consensus with partners like Denmark into concrete, EU-wide policy pressure on Russia. The coordinated focus on sanctioning Russian combatants, countering the shadow fleet, and expanding NATO's Arctic presence demonstrates a strategic effort to contain Moscow's influence across multiple domains, not just on the Ukrainian front.