Baltic States Anti-Drone Defence: The three Baltic countries are planning to ask the European Union (EU) for financial support again to improve their defence against drones. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia want more money to build stronger systems that can detect and stop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Lithuanian President’s National Security Adviser Deividas Matulionis said on Tuesday that the countries haven’t given up on their request. He said they may raise the issue again while EU members discuss the next long-term budget for 2028–2034.
“We are certainly not giving up, and we will most likely apply for potential funding again later – preferably grants rather than loans,” Matulionis told the news radio station Žinių radijas.
Greece Signs Deal to Acquire Three Embraer KC-390 Millennium Aircraft
The three countries are looking for grants because this would provide financial support without requiring them to repay the money. Loans would add to their financial responsibilities.
Baltic States Previously Asked for 500 Million Euros
In September 2026, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent a joint letter to the European Commission (EC). They requested 500 million euros to improve their ability to protect the region against drone attacks.
The request was first reported by Finnish newspaper Iltalehti. The three countries hoped to receive the money during 2026 so they could strengthen their anti-drone systems without waiting for the next EU budget.
The plan is important because the Baltic region is concerned about possible Russian attacks. There are fears that Russia could use drones to test NATO’s Article 5. This rule says that an attack on one NATO member can be treated as an attack on all members.
The concern has grown after drones linked to the Russia-Ukraine war entered the airspace of countries in the region. The Baltic states want better technology to detect incoming drones and stop them before they can cause damage.
EU Suggests SAFE Loans Instead of Grants
The European Commission responded to the request on October 29, 2026. But its answer wasn’t what the Baltic countries had hoped for. Instead of providing the requested grant, the Commission encouraged them to use loans available through its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme.
Britain Plans to Raise Defence Spending to 3% of GDP by 2030: Check Full Details
EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said more money was still available through this programme.
“We have provided a response. Indeed, there are now new opportunities to use additional SAFE funds. We will announce a new call in the near future, as 21 billion euros remained available after the first call,” Kubilius told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT.
The European Commission said there were limited options for providing more money through its current budget. This is because the existing EU budget period is close to ending.
According to LRT, the Baltic states could also look for support through the Integrated Border Management Fund. But the amount available through this fund would be much smaller than the 500 million euros they requested.
The European Commission’s response has also raised concerns in the region. The Baltic countries were hoping for direct financial help instead of taking more loans to pay for their defence needs.
