Implementation of NATO's advanced air defense system and rotational presence of capabilities on NATO eastern flank need to be accelerated - Foreign Ministry

RIGA - There is a need for an accelerated implementation of NATO's advanced air defense system and the rotational presence of capabilities on NATO's eastern flank in line with the decisions taken at NATO summits, the Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Andzejs Vilumsons said on Thursday.

On Thursday, high-level consultations on the Indo-Pacific region were held in Vilnius between the Foreign Services of the United States of America and the Baltic States, the Latvian Foreign Ministry informed LETA. Vilumsons informed his U.S. and Baltic counterparts about the incident last Saturday when a Russian military drone flew into and crashed in Latvian territory.

The U.S. was represented by the Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, while Latvia was represented by Vilumsons, Lithuania - by Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Estonia - by Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, Jonatan Vseviov.

According to the Latvian Foreign Ministry, the U.S.-Baltic dialog on the Indo-Pacific is being intensified in view of the close link between the transatlantic and the Indo-Pacific security areas. This is of particular importance in the current geopolitical situation. Therefore, it is also important for Latvia, through strengthening bilateral and multilateral contacts, to develop closer cooperation with the region the role of which is growing rapidly in international relations and security, as well as in the global economy. It is also essential to promote further support from the Indo-Pacific countries to Ukraine and for containing Russian aggression. In that context, the consultations also addressed steps that can be taken to curb the circumvention of sanctions.