5% is not enough for defense; EU must help countries on its eastern flank - Kulbergs

RIGA - Five percent of Latvia’s gross domestic product allocated to defense is not enough to ensure the security of Europe’s eastern flank, so the European Union (EU) should provide more support to these countries, Prime Minister and United List's candidate for Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs, said in an interview with LETA’s broadcast called What Was That All About?

"Five percent is not enough," said Kulbergs, emphasizing that Latvia is the EU’s external border. According to him, Latvia uses its defense spending not only to strengthen national security but also to ensure the security of all of Europe.

"We are investing very costly resources to ensure security not only for ourselves but for Europe," Kulbergs said. In his view, the countries on the eastern flank should receive different levels of funding, taking into account their geographic location and the level of threat they face.

Kulbergs called on the EU to assist the countries on the eastern flank not only with defense funding but also with investments and economic development. "A strong economy is the foundation of strong security," he said, emphasizing that borrowing alone is not enough, as it is also necessary to develop local manufacturing and the defense industry.

In response to a question about how to secure additional funding for defense, Kulbergs ruled out the possibility of raising taxes. He said that first, unnecessary spending must be cut, budget leaks must be plugged, and new sources of revenue must be found. Kulbergs claimed that an additional EUR 100, 200 or 300 million could be generated annually in the budget, but he did not specify concrete measures to secure such revenue.

Kulbergs said that he is actively advocating for this issue in the European Council, in cooperation with the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, Finland, and Sweden. In his view, EU defense funding should be directed to where the greatest threats lie, rather than being distributed evenly among all member states.