Europe must take greater responsibility for its security - Rinkevics

RIGA - Europe itself must assume much greater responsibility for its own defense and security, President Edgars Rinkevics told Latvian Television this morning.

Speaking about the upcoming US elections, Rinkevics explained that regardless of the outcome of the US elections, regardless of who the US citizens elect as president, Europe itself must assume much greater responsibility for its defense and security. Both within NATO and beyond, he added.

The President noted that Latvia has historically had good cooperation with both Democrats and Republicans. At the same time, Europe itself needs to invest more in its defense.

On the overall security situation in the world, Rinkevics stressed that security, both globally and regionally, is interlinked. Events in the Middle East also have an impact on security in Latvia.

"It is difficult to say whether the years of peace were the norm or the exception. If we look at the 20th century, conflicts were constant," the President said.

At the same time, Rinkevics pointed out that with the help of modern technologies, the public learns more and faster about various events in the world, information about which was not available some 30 years ago.