Baltic defense ministers emphasize importance of NATO presence in region

RIGA/TALLINN - Baltic defense ministers who met in the city of Daugavpils in southeastern Latvia on Thursday and Friday signed a joint communique emphasizing the importance of NATO presence in the region.

Participants in the two-day meeting included Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis, Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and Estonian Defense Minister Margus Tsahkna.

The communique calls for closer trilateral cooperation on matters of regional security and the implementation of the decisions made during the Warsaw Summit, including increasing the presence of NATO in the Baltics, which demonstrates the solidarity and unity of the alliance, spokespeople for the Latvian Defense Ministry said.

The communique also emphasizes the importance of strategic relations with the United States, and praises the U.S.' presence in the region and financial contribution towards the reassurance initiative in Europe. The communique also highlights the Baltics countries' commitment to raise defense spending to two percent of GDP by 2018.

"Battle groups of international battalions of allies approved at the NATO Warsaw summit have reached our countries, but the prompt and successful implementation of this decision does not yet mean the end of history," Margus Tsahkna was quoted by spokespeople for the Estonian Defense Ministry as saying. "We need to carry on work to reinforce our security so that the deterrence posture as a whole was adequate and appropriate for the situation."

The defense ministers confirmed that the good defense cooperation between the countries must continue to ensure the defense of the countries. The defense ministers also discussed the development of joint cooperation project and cooperation as the host countries of NATO battle groups. Topics discussed at the meeting also included the aftermath of the recent NATO special meeting and possible cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Tsahkna also gave his counterparts an overview of Estonia's security priorities during the upcoming EU presidency.

Baltic defense ministers meet regularly twice a year.