On 25 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Minister for Defence Andris Sprūds at the Riga Castle. During the meeting, they discussed the use of defence funding through targeted investment in strengthening the capabilities of the National Armed Forces in line with NATO capability targets, the provision of host nation support to Allied forces in Latvia, and the development of the defence industry.
“It is essential that the historically largest defence budget is utilised purposefully, efficiently and without delay, implementing NATO capability targets and ensuring that Latvia fulfils its commitments in providing host nation support to Allied forces. It is clear that at the meeting of NATO heads of state and government to be held this July in Ankara, Türkiye, every European ally must demonstrate tangible progress in implementing the commitments undertaken at the NATO Hague Summit. Close transatlantic cooperation, today and in the future, is based on Europe’s ability to convincingly assume greater responsibility,” emphasised E. Rinkēvičs. The President and the Minister for Defence agreed that appropriate amendments must be made to the Law on the National Defence to clearly stipulate that, from 2027, defence investment in line with NATO criteria should be no less than 5% of gross domestic product.
It was mutually agreed that it is in Latvia’s interest to strengthen regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, in close coordination with the Nordic countries, to promote a unified understanding of threats within the European Union and NATO and the corresponding strengthening of military capabilities, as well as to continue support for Ukraine.
Among the priority tasks to be carried out by the Ministry of Defence and the National Armed Forces within the prescribed timeframes, the President once again underscored the importance of developing the “Sēlija” military training ground, both for ensuring the training of professional services and soldiers of the national defence, and for providing infrastructure accessible to Allied forces. E. Rinkēvičs also emphasised the importance of direct and timely dialogue between the Ministry of Defence, the National Armed Forces, residents and local authorities in the eastern border region regarding the deployment of counter-mobility infrastructure. The President further pointed out that inter-institutional coordination and cooperation on various matters related to national defence are of crucial importance in the field of national security.
