Defense plans for Baltic region are very good and detailed - Murniece

RIGA - The defense plans that have been worked out for the Baltic region are very good and detailed, Defense Minister Inara Murniece (National Alliance) told reporters on Friday ahead of the upcoming NATO summit.

Murniece praised the work of NATO's senior commanders and said the plans were drawn up even 18 months ahead of schedule.

"But the countries, and NATO as a whole, have to be able to execute these plans. This requires defense funding," the minister stressed, indicated that Latvia, for example, is planning to increase its defense spending to 3 percent of GDP in the coming years.

The new plans envisage NATO's defense area from the first moment and minute of conflict, Murniece said.

It has already been reported that new NATO defense plans for the Baltic states and Poland have been developed in response to the threat posed by Russian aggression in Ukraine.

As the alliance's position changes, the new plans provide for the region's defense from day one of a possible attack,. The previous approach was for the Baltic states to try to deter a Russian offensive until allied forces could arrive to help.

The NATO Summit in Vilnius will take place on July 11-12.