The first annual threat assessment seminar of the Latvian Presidency of the Baltic Sea Border Guard Cooperation Conference (BSRBCC) took place from 24 to 26 February 2026, bringing together naval and border guard officials from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency FRONTEX.
The seminar discussed the most pressing border security challenges, including illegal migration, human and drug smuggling, document forgery, hybrid threats, cyberspace threats and risks to critical maritime infrastructure. Many countries highlighted the impact of illegal migration organised by Belarus and the instrumentalisation of migrants at EU borders, as well as aggressive actions against border guards and damage to infrastructure.
Security risks in the Baltic Sea were also highlighted, particularly in relation to the Russian “shadow fleet”, GPS signal jamming, sanctions circumvention and potential threats to submarine cables and other critical infrastructure. Some countries also pointed to the growing threats from drones and smuggling activities. FRONTEX stressed the importance of multifunctional maritime operations, which promote cooperation between countries, operational efficiency and exchange of experience in border protection.