Investments in defense and industrial development must be increased further - president

  • 2025-01-20
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Investments in defense and industrial development should be increased further, stressed Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who met with Commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS) Leonids Kalnins at the Riga Castle on Monday.

According to the president's aide Martins Dregeris, Kalnins will conclude his duties and professional service as the commander of the National Armed Forces on January 26.

Kalnins has been serving as NBS Commander for two consecutive terms since January 27, 2017. Rinkevics said that this has been a period of increasing intensity in a difficult security environment, in which the development of the NBS has been an essential part of strengthening Latvia's security and contributing to NATO's overall deterrence and defense.

The president noted that during these eight years Latvia's defense budget has grown from 1.7 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 to 3.45 percent of GDP in 2025. Rinkevics thanked Kalnins for the achievements in the growth of the Latvian military and the development of defense capabilities, as well as in the strengthening and development of the Allied presence in Latvia from the initial battlegroup to the NATO multinational brigade led by Canada, which has just been joined by a contingent from Sweden as the newest NATO member.

During the meeting, the president underlined that Russia's full-scale hostilities in Ukraine have led to historic changes in NATO's strategic military plans, capability development and force readiness. He pointed out that in the current security situation, it is necessary for the Alliance nationally and as a whole to exercise effective deterrence and counteraction against aggressor activities, to substantially step up investments in defense and industrial development, to adapt to all threats and challenges and to continue to provide the necessary military support to Ukraine.

As reported, in January the term of office of NBS Commander Kalnins will expire and he will be succeeded by the current commander of the National Guard, Kaspars Pudans, who will take up his new duties on January 27.