India to Deepen Baltic Ties with Envoy Visits

Focus on Cyber Defense and Historic Gandhi Connection

India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is poised to visit Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania this year, signaling a strengthening of diplomatic and strategic relations with the Baltic nations.

Strategic Alliances and Cyber Capabilities

The forthcoming visits are expected to include the formal inauguration of full-fledged Indian embassies in all three countries, highlighting their growing importance. Cyber security emerges as a key area for enhanced cooperation, with Estonia and Lithuania recognized as global leaders in the field.

Lieutenant General V.G. Khandare (Retd.), formerly an advisor to the defence minister, emphasized India’s keenness to expand collaboration, stating, Estonia and also, Lithuania are among the best in the world in cyber security. We have already worked with Estonia and we are keen to do more.

Baltic Defense and Trade Expansion

These Baltic states, described as “frontline NATO states,” have significantly boosted defense expenditure to approximately 5% of their GDP following the conflict in Ukraine. Notably, NATO’s cyber command is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. This increased defense spending opens avenues for Baltic states to consider NATO-compatible Indian-made weaponry. Bilateral trade links with the three nations collectively exceed $1 billion.

The Enduring Gandhi Legacy

A unique cultural dimension enriches India’s relationship with Lithuania, rooted in the historical friendship between Mahatma Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach, a Lithuanian architect. Their collaboration in building Tolstoy Farm in South Africa is commemorated annually.

The annual celebration involves a march to an iconic statue of Gandhi and Kallenbach located in the Lithuanian fishing town of Rusne. This year’s event was attended by Indian Ambassador Devesh Uttam and Lithuanian Ambassador Diana Mickeviciene, with author-journalist M.J. Akbar serving as the chief guest.

The Baltic region is increasingly vital for Europe’s security architecture. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), defense spending across Europe increased by 13% in 2023, the largest year-on-year increase since the Cold War, reflecting the geopolitical shifts in the region (SIPRI, 2024).