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Model of natural gas pipeline and Finland flag, July 18, 2022.
Another Baltic pipeline whodunnit!
NATO on Wednesday pledged a “determined” response if recent damage to a critical pipeline linking two of its members is found to have been deliberate.
Earlier this week, the Balticconnector undersea gas and data pipeline between Finland and Estonia suffered interruptions in what local authorities suggested was an intentional attack.
The 100-mile-long pipeline, which traverses the Baltic Sea, opened in 2019 to better integrate Baltic energy markets. It can send gas in either direction between Finland and Estonia depending on their needs.
Finland is NATO’s newest member, having joined the defense alliance in April. The country halted Russian gas imports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, making the Balticconnector its only source of the fuel, which accounts for about 5% of Finland’s total energy mix.
Investigators are reviewing recent ship activity in the region. Russia on Wednesday mused that it was “disturbed” by the incident. If a state actor is suspected, NATO will have to determine a response that is firm but proportionate.
The incident comes, of course, barely a year after the apparent sabotage of the Russia-Germany Nord Stream gas pipeline at a Baltic Sea location about 500 miles southwest of the Balticcoonnector. That mystery remains unsolved.
Estonia's digital revolution: a global model of efficiency
In a recent GZERO livestream event presented by Visa, Carmen Raal, a digital transformation advisor and expert from e-Estonia, shared some remarkable insights into the nation's digital transformation. Estonia, often hailed as a digital pioneer, has undergone a profound digitalization process that sets it apart on the global stage. Carmen explained that 99.99% of Estonia’s public services are accessible online, which includes a strong collaboration between the nations’ public and private sectors. Raal points out how this unique partnership has created solutions that are versatile and user-friendly. One example is Estonia's electronic identity and signature system which isn't limited to government use; it extends to online banking across all banks in Estonia.
The emphasis on simplicity has been key to encouraging widespread adoption of digital solutions. This also includes the process of setting up a company in Estonia. Raal highlights that it takes less than three hours to establish a company online, and the world record is a just a hair over 15 minutes. According to Raal, this efficiency, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, has positioned Estonia as an administrative haven, attracting entrepreneurs from around the world under the concept of e-residency, which allows individuals worldwide to obtain a digital identity card, granting them the ability to run an Estonian company without physical presence in the country. This offers access to the European single market, showcasing Estonia's commitment to fostering a global digital community. Raal highlights how Estonia's digital journey underscores the transformative potential of embracing technology, not only for enhancing efficiency but also for fueling economic growth and innovation.
To hear more about the challenges and opportunities that nation-states face when it comes to digitization, and how it could shape a more inclusive and resilient future, watch the full livestream conversation:
What Ukraine's digital revolution teaches the world
Ukraine shows success with long-range drone attacks against Russia
Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics.
How is Ukraine doing in the war?
Well, they seem to be making incremental gains on the ground in the south of Ukraine against the Russian occupation forces. But most spectacular, of course, have been the successes they've had with long-range drone attacks in big numbers, where they have been successful in attacking Russian air bases 700 kilometers away from the territory of Ukraine, causing significant damage to significant Russian assets. That's a new dimension of the war. And it shows that Ukraine has the ability to develop new technology on its own, independent of the very important support that they're getting from Europe and from the United States.
- Why Ukraine's strategy is "stretch, starve, strike" ›
- Ukraine's counteroffensive on the brink ›
- More drone strikes on Moscow ›
- Tiny drones in Ukraine are destroying tanks ›
- Ukraine drone attacks on Moscow imply they don't fear Russian response ›
- The Graphic Truth: The EU from its origins until now ›
- Ukraine’s long road to EU membership ›
- How Ukrainians learn to pilot kamikaze drones that destroy tanks - GZERO Media ›
NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) soldiers clash with local Kosovo Serb protesters
Kosovo flareups intensify
NATO is deploying additional troops to its peacekeeping mission in Northern Kosovo after clashes with local ethnic Serb protesters on Monday left dozens injured on both sides.
The Balkan backgrounder: Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade after Serbia waged a brutal war to crush Kosovo’s autonomy. But neither Serbia nor the ethnic Serbian majority in Northern Kosovo recognize Kosovo’s independence.
As a result, in the years since, tensions have often flared over which government is legitimate in the area, and a peace deal that would give local Serbs autonomy has never been implemented. Nearly 4,000 NATO peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo to keep things in check.
The latest flare-up: In April, Kosovo held local elections in Northern Kosovo that were boycotted by the local ethnic Serb majority. Over the weekend, the ethnic-Albanian officials who won those votes moved into their offices. Serb protesters tried to block them but were dispersed by Kosovar riot police and NATO troops in clashes that injured at least 30 peacekeepers and 50 protesters.
Serbia is now putting its own troops on alert to defend ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, while Belgrade’s traditional allies in Moscow have blamed Kosovo and the West for the crisis. The US and EU have called for de-escalation, but Washington, normally a strong backer of Kosovo, has also criticized the Kosovan government’s decision to install the ethnic-Albanian officials over Serb objections.
More protests are scheduled for Wednesday…
NATO unity & how to end war in Ukraine
What a difference a year makes. As the world marks the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Zelensky's military has performed far better against Russia than even some of its staunchest supporters expected when the war began. And Putin's illegal invasion of a sovereign neighbor has rallied the West to Kyiv's cause.
Ian Bremmer is on the ground in Germany for the annual Munich Security Conference to ask world leaders how much further the West is willing to go in its support for Ukraine.
Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been called Europe’s new Iron Lady, and says no Russian war crime should go unpunished. And NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană offers a candid assessment of a war that has no clear end in sight. Ian speaks to them both.
Watch "GZERO World with Ian Bremmer" on public television stations across the US. Check local listings.
When Russia is your neighbor: Estonian PM Kaja Kallas' frontline POV
Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, knows firsthand the dangers that come with being a frontline state on the Russian border. In 2007, her country was hit by Russian cyber attacks that crippled banks, media outlets, and government institutions for weeks. But being on the receiving end of this new kind of modern warfare has also made the country more resilient. In the years since Estonia has invested a lot in cyber security and can better monitor bad actors seeking to divide their society with digital warfare.
GZERO World traveled to the Munich Security Conference to speak with western leaders on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion. One of the biggest challenges within NATO is maintaining cohesion and staying united in support of Ukraine. Kallas acknowledges their internal divisions about how far the alliance is willing to go and says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a lot different than the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. She even mentions one anonymous European leader who wants to be on the right side of history in supporting Kyiv, even though public opinion is against it. Any guesses as to who that might be?
Catch Ian Bremmer's full interview with Kallas in this week's episode of "GZERO World with Ian Bremmer," airing on public television stations in the US. Check local listings
Europe's new "Iron Lady" Kaja Kallas
Kaja Kallas became Estonia’s first female Prime Minister in 2021 and has been called Europe’s new Iron Lady. Since assuming office, she has been one of the strongest voices in Europe condemning Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression. She's also been one of Ukrainian President Zelensky's staunchest supporters. "The war is going much better than we thought a year ago," she tells Ian Bremmer while on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany. But she's also aware that the road ahead is full of challenges. "Ukraine has survived and has fought very hard, but to look into the future, how is it going in the future? Do we see any way out of this? It's very hard to say."
Catch Ian Bremmer's full interview with Kaja Kallas on this week's episode of "GZERO World with Ian Bremmer," airing on US public television stations nationwide. Check local listings.
- Ukraine is fighting for all of us, says Estonia's former president Kersti Kaljulaid ›
- Can Europe remain united? - GZERO Media ›
- Hard Numbers: Dutch riot, Israel's COVID balancing act, Estonia's new PM, Germans heart Biden ›
- Is Putin still Soviet? Wrong question ›
- "Peace" under authoritarian occupation isn't peaceful: Estonia's Kaja Kallas - GZERO Media ›
- When Russia is your neighbor: Estonian PM Kaja Kallas' frontline POV - GZERO Media ›
- Nord Stream explosion mystery: We need proof, says Estonia's PM Kaja Kallas - GZERO Media ›
- GZERO celebrates International Women's Day - GZERO Media ›
People run away during an anti-government protest, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
What We’re Watching: Uproar in Sierra Leone, falling US gas prices, Baltic states balk at China
Fracas in Freetown
Sierra Leone on Thursday declared a nationwide curfew and cut access to the internet by 95% amid deadly anti-government protests over inflation. Six cops and 21 civilians have been killed in the West African nation, where about half the population lives under the poverty line. Most Sierra Leonians are struggling to meet their basic needs due to high food and fuel prices, which have jumped 40% in recent months, mainly due to the effect of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global commodities. Such unrest is unusual in Sierra Leone, which has been relatively peaceful and politically stable since its civil war 20 years ago. More broadly, in recent weeks similar protests over the cost of living have also turned deadly across the continent in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. So far the demonstrations have yet to topple an African government, many of which are mired in debt and simply don’t have the cash to offer relief to their citizens. But if food and fuel prices continue to climb, so will levels of civilian desperation.
Americans get some reprieve at the pump
We’ve been talking about prices at the pump a lot in recent months, and for very good reason. But after months of eye-watering prices, the average cost of gasoline in the US has fallen below $4 a gallon for the first time since March, according to AAA, a roadside assistance motor club. This marks a 20% drop from mid-June when prices exceeded $5, suggesting that the US Fed’s efforts to curb inflation are having an impact. Oil prices in the US – and globally – have also dropped in recent weeks amid fears of a global recession as the war in Ukraine lingers. What’s more, 88% of Americans recently surveyed said they were driving less due to high gas prices, indicating that slumping demand is fueling lower prices. With the cost-of-living dominating US political discourse, President Joe Biden and the Democrats are heralding the price drop to showcase efforts to address inflation ahead of November’s midterms. This follows a slate of recent legislative wins for the Dems – can they maintain the momentum?
China’s “no limits” gets no love in Baltics
Latvia and Estonia have announced they are ditching a grouping of central and eastern European countries that are meant to be deepening economic ties with Beijing. The reason? The friend of their enemy is not their friend: the two countries say they can’t accept being a partner of China’s so long as Beijing maintains a “no limits friendship” with Russia, the Baltics’ much-resented former colonial overlord. The Latvian and Estonian exit from the group follows fellow Baltic country Lithuania’s departure last year after a spat with China over deepening ties with Taiwan. The grouping, formerly known as 17+1 (for the number of European countries plus China), is now down to a skinnier 14. Although the Baltics’ combined GDP of a little more than $140 billion is about 100 times smaller than China’s, their decision to ditch the club opens the question of whether more formidable economies in the region — such as Poland — may follow suit. Both sides will need to pick their friends wisely.