PM Silina and Czech parliament speaker discuss strengthening defense industry

RIGA - Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) and Marketa Pekarova-Adamova, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, in a meeting on Wednesday discussed bilateral cooperation, with the focus on security and support to Ukraine, Silina's spokesman Aleksis Zoldners told LETA.

Silina noted in the conversation with the Czech speaker that the Latvian government on Tuesday approved a EUR 10 million allocation to the Czech-led initiative aimed at supplying artillery shells to Ukraine. The prime minister thanked the Czech Republic for joining the Canada-led multinational NATO battle group in Latvia, as well as the air policing mission in the Baltics. 

The officials agreed that both Latvia and Czechia must continue to work on strengthening NATO and regional security. The talks also touched on the Latvia-led drone coalition initiative and the need to further develop and strengthen the defense industry where the Czech Republic has considerable experience. The officials underlined the need to further promote cooperation in economic exchange and investment attraction. 

As reported, Pekarova-Adamova is visiting Latvia from today till May 16.