Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania successfully synchronised their electricity systems with the European continental power grid on Sunday, marking the end of their decades-old energy dependence on Russia and Belarus. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the move as "a new era of freedom", during a ceremony in Vilnius with the Baltic leaders. The transition, years in the making, accelerated after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The shift aims to strengthen the region's energy security and further integrate the Baltic nations into the European Union. The countries disconnected from the Soviet-era IPS/UPS network on Saturday, physically severing high-voltage lines in eastern Latvia near the Russian border. The move leaves Russia's Kaliningrad exclave to manage its electricity supply independently. With heightened security concerns in the Baltic Sea region following recent infrastructure disruptions, Poland and the Baltics have deployed military assets to safeguard key power links. Analysts warn that any damage to the new grid connections could trigger electricity price spikes. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
