Olevs Nikers
Olevs Nikers is President of the Baltic Security Foundation and former advisor to the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia. Mr. Nikers has led the Baltic Security Strategy Project (2017 – 2019) supported by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation and The Jamestown Foundation, and the Baltic Sea Security Initiative (2019 – 2021). He is author, co-author and editor of a series of publications in the field of regional security and international relations. Mr. Nikers is a graduate in international relations from The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. In 2023 he was recipient of the Fulbright Scholar award – hosted as a resident fellow by the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, USA. As a PhD candidate at the Riga Stradiņš University, Mr.Nikers studies regional security politics, Transatlantic security and bureaucratic politics. From 2001 to 2019, Mr. Nikers has worked at the Ministry of Defence of Latvia as chief expert.
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Articles by Olevs Nikers
Russian Drone Crash Exposes Critical Weakness in Latvian Comprehensive Defense
Executive Summary: An armed Russian drone crash incident reveals in Latvia on September 7 the significant shortcomings within the Latvian comprehensive defense system. These shortcomings are related to the lack
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Interviewed by L’Express
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was recently interviewed by French news outlet L'Express about the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit (NATO) in Washington DC from July 9 to 11.
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Interviewed by TVP World on State of Russian-Finnish Border
Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by TVP World regarding the current state of affairs along Finland's border with Russia.
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Interviewed by Accent News on Chinese-Georgian Strategic Partnership
Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikes offered his expertise to Georgian outlet Accent News regarding deepening cooperation between Tbilisi and Beijing. "Declaration of enhanced partnership with China will not undermine
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers interviewed by Accent News on the Middle Corridor
On June 26, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by Georgian outlet Accent News regarding the strategic implications of the Middle Corridor and what its development could mean for Georgia's
Latvia and Estonia Agree to Joint Acquisition of IRIS-T Air Defense Systems
Latvia, together with Estonia, is undertaking the largest military procurement project since the restoration of independence in acquiring the IRIS-T air defense system from Germany. In late May 2023, these
Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers interviews with Accent News on Russia cancelling visa regime with Georgia
On May 12, Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers offered his expert comments to Georgian outlet Accent News regarding Moscow's reasoning for cancelling the visa regime with Georgia. "The fact that
Latvia Reinstitutes Conscription Amid Calls to Strengthen National and Regional Security
On April 19, the legislation that provides for Latvia’s return to military conscription came into force as adopted by the Latvian Parliament and ratified by Latvian President Egils Levits (Labdien.lv,
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Interviewed Accent News on Black Sea Energy
On December 18, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by Georgian outlet Accent News regarding Black Sea energy and the proposed submarine cable project. "This new arrangement is
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Is Quoted by Al-Jazeera on Latvia’s Decision to Shutdown Rain TV
On December 7, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by Al-Jazeera regarding the Latvian government's decision to shutter Rain TV. “Latvia was occupied by Russia and thousands of
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Is Interviewed by Veridica on Possible Outcomes for War in Ukraine
On November 17, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by Romania-based outlet Veridica regarding, among other topics, the best possible outcome for the Baltic states vis-a-vis Russia's war
Jamestown Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers Is Interviewed by Newsweek on NATO’s Response to Ukraine War
On November 17, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Olevs Nikers was interviewed by Newsweek regarding NATO's strategic response and adaptation to Russia's war against Ukraine. "The security situation on NATO's eastern
Latvia Contemplates Conscription in Face of Russian Aggression
Focused on substantial reinforcement of self-defense capabilities while the regional security situation deteriorates due to Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine, Latvia is considering reinstating a policy of compulsory military service, which
Armored Troop Carrier Project to Link Baltic Sea Regional Partners
In late summer, Latvia and Finland officially agreed on a deal for Riga to purchase more than 200 armored personnel carriers (APC) developed by the Finnish company Patria as well
Baltic Security Assurances in Wake of NATO Summit and Biden-Putin Meeting
Amidst continuing tensions with Russia, the Baltic States—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—attached tremendous importance to achieving success at this year’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, held in Brussels, Belgium, on
Analysts Otto Tabuns and Olevs Nikers Interviewed by Baltic Times
Jamestown analysts and Baltic Security Foundation heads Otto Tabuns and Olevs Nikers were interviewed, on April 4, by the Baltic Times on a wide range of security issues, including Belarus,
5G Technologies in Latvia Advance Military Capabilities and National Economy
In mid-November, Latvian officials inaugurated a 5G test site at the Ādaži military base, near Riga. The facility is the first of its kind not only in Latvia but throughout
Rail Baltica Moves Ahead but Suffers From Major Construction Delays
The multinational Rail Baltica project, which had been in the planning and design stages since 2014, finally entered the phase of actual construction of the railway line and related infrastructure
Baltic Intelligence Agencies Increasingly Worry About Threats From China in Addition to Russia
In mid-March, the State Security Service (VDD) of Latvia published its annual public report. “While the new coronavirus COVID-19 disease has for some time brought other priorities to the forefront
Baltics Call for Unified European ‘Frontline’ Against Russian Disinformation
In light of the three Baltic States’ and other Central and Eastern European countries’ continued struggle against Russian disinformation, Latvian President Egils Levits emphasized that international law needs to be
Latvia Safeguards Its Telecommunications Assets
As of early 2020, Latvia remains the only Baltic State whose telecommunications market is not wholly controlled by a foreign-owned private enterprise, namely the Swedish companies Telia and Tele2. This
Latvia’s Changing Political Parties and Efforts to Combat Soviet Nostalgia
The last remnants of the so-called “Homo Sovieticus” phenomenon—characterized by low loyalty toward the national state, hostility to Western-style liberal-democratic values, and high levels of Soviet nostalgia and pro-Russian feelings—may
Russia’s Offshore ‘Missile Tests’: Psychologically Undermining the Economic Security of the Baltics
In the past two months, the Russian government twice warned Latvian authorities that it was planning to conduct missile tests over Latvia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Baltic Sea.
Latvia Defends Its Language Law Despite Massive Russian Pressure
Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis announced new amendments to the set of education laws regulating the transition of all secondary education (high school) within the country into the official state language—Latvian.
Latvian Financial Corruption Scandals Open Opportunity for Russian Information Warfare
A series of accusations levied against Latvian banks and officials last week has seriously upended this Baltic State’s banking and financial system. First, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of
Latvia Focuses on Improving Societal Resilience and Increasing Size of National Guard
In late January 2018, the Ministry of Defense of Latvia (MoD) reported plans to expand the National Guard (Zemessardzes) force to 12,000 by 2027. The largest component of the National
A Year in Review: Baltics Steadily Grow Their Armies
The biggest success for all three Baltic countries—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—last year was the arrival of the multinational battalion groups to the region, thus implementing the decisions reached at the
Russia’s Energy Monopoly in Central-Eastern Europe Under Siege
The question of where to secure dependable energy supplies for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe was notably broached during United States President Donald Trump’s July visit to Poland.
Baltic Cyber-Defense ‘Tigers’ Lock out Web Criminals
In late June 2017, for the second time in the previous two months, Europe experienced a massive wave of cyberattacks, which also spread to the United States. Initially, the attacks—from
Joint Baltic Rail Venture Attracts Wider Regional Interest
Rail Baltica, the European-standard-gauge railway project for the Baltic States, which also has important security implications (see EDM, October 19, 2016), is becoming a more important component of the future
Baltic Region Holds Multiple NATO Exercises in Anticipation of Russia’s Massive Zapad 2017 Drills
Twice in the past several weeks, Russian intrusions put the Baltics on high alert. On June 1, several Russian soldiers, traveling from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad without transit permits,
Latvia Pursues ‘Total Defense’ Concept, Rejects Conscription
In early April 2017, the Latvian Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) Parliamentary Secretary Andrejs Panteļējevs publicly announced the country was returning to the concept of total or “comprehensive” defense, which it
Moscow’s Laughs Not to Be Trusted in the Baltics
Humor is a much more powerful “soft warfare” weapon in Russia’s hands than one might think. This month (March 2017), a team of academics from Latvia and Ukraine, in collaboration
Baltics Take Step Toward Creating Single Security Space
The issue of closer defense cooperation among the three Baltic States—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—was raised again, on March 3, by defense professionals and distinguished speakers from the United Kingdom and
NATO Consolidating ‘Collective Defense’ in Europe’s East
Since the beginning of February 2017, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has begun to implement the decision taken at the Alliance’s summit in Warsaw last July to deploy a
A Visionary at the Head of the Latvian Armed Forces
The Latvian National Armed Forces (LNAF) are starting the year with a new commander. After having his appointment approved by the Latvian parliament in December 22, 2016, Major General Leonīds
Baltics Sharply Increase Defense Expenditures
By approving additional defense spending in their national budgets for 2017, the Baltic States—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—strongly answered Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Their budget figures, adopted this past December, mean
China and CEE Countries Push for Broader Economic Cooperation in Riga
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s historic visit to Riga, Latvia, on November 4, marked the opening of a new chapter in relations between Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the
NATO Forces in Baltic: Numerous but Disjointed
As the Baltic States continue to confront Russian air and naval power in the Baltic Sea, two small missile ships, the Zelenyy Dol and the Serpukhov entered this crowded body
Baltics to Build Stronger Logistics Within the EU and NATO
Earlier this month (October 2016), the governments of the Baltic States and Poland finally reached all the necessary political, financial and technical agreements to implement one of the most ambitious
Depopulation—Invisible Threat to Latvian Security
Latvia experienced a population decline of 8.7 percent in the last year. From among the 28 members of the European Union (the United Kingdom has not yet officially left), only
Inside Latvia’s New State Defense Concept: Riga Declares Its Military Ambitions Ahead of NATO Summit
Latvia’s new State Defense Concept, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers this week (May 24), is an ambitious declaration for a stronger defense buildup. At the same time, it represents
Latvia Strives to Modernize Its Command and Control
In order to boost the role of the National Guard within the national defense system and to continue to develop its structures, Latvia’s Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis recently ordered the
Ukraine-Style Hybrid War Unlikely in Latgale
On the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the BBC gave its viewers a chance to “look inside the war room” with a program featuring a
Security Regime on Latvia’s Eastern Border Needs Substantial Investment
Different time zones and long geographical distance separate Latvia from the southern borders of the European Union, which, since last year, has been absorbing an unprecedented influx of thousands of