NATO says Baltic defenses have markedly improved under new deterrence strategy

In an interview with LETA, Lt Gen John Mead, a British deputy commander at NATO’s Brunssum Joint Force Command, highlighted substantial progress in the security of the Baltic states since NATO adopted the Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) strategy. He explained that the DDA has synchronized NATO’s regional plans with national defence planning, leading to stronger logistics, tighter cohesion among Latvia and Estonia, and integrated surveillance.

Operations such as Baltic Sentry, launched to counter new threats, have kept undersea cables intact, while the Eastern Sentry air-defence mission, started a year ago, further demonstrates the alliance’s decisive steps. Mead stressed that while troop numbers are sufficient, regular joint exercises—like the forthcoming Exercise Steadfast Deterrence—are needed to prove deployment capabilities. He also praised Baltic innovation in science and technology, identified UAVs as a modern challenge, and warned NATO must continue adapting without complacency.