Latvia is safe at the moment - Silina

RIGA - Latvia is currently safe and the level of direct military threat is low, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) stressed during the foreign affairs debate in the Saeima on Thursday.

She stressed that Latvia has invested and achieved a lot in strengthening the country's internal and external security. She reminded that this year, for the first time, Latvia's defense budget is five percent of gross domestic product.

This is also a contribution to transatlantic security, not in words but in deeds, said Silina.

She underlined that work on strengthening and increasing military cooperation between Latvia and the US is particularly focused in Latvia. She also reminded that exactly one year ago, Swedish troops arrived in Latvia, joining the now 4,000-strong brigade of 14 NATO countries.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has repeatedly assured Silina that the NATO brigade in Latvia is an example of how NATO allies work in practice to strengthen deterrence and defense.

And five percent in defense is indeed a great success, which can also encourage NATO allies to invest more in strengthening our common NATO security, the Prime Minister said.

She said that the level of direct military threat to Latvia's security is currently low, but at the same time, we are vigilant about the hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, as efforts to exploit illegal migration continue. Last year, the State Border Guard prevented more than 12,000 attempts to cross the Belarusian-Latvian border illegally.

Therefore, Silina said, Latvia will not take in any asylum seekers under the solidarity mechanism, and has no plans to pay other countries.

It has already been reported that Latvia is ready to participate in the solidarity mechanism only through alternative support measures, which include Member State support by providing its expertise or participation, or by providing technical support.

In her address, the Prime Minister highlighted that work is currently underway to cooperate with Rheinmetall, one of the world's largest military manufacturers, to set up an artillery ammunition production facility. Not only new and technologically advanced companies in the field of drones and counter-drones, but also in the field of electronic warfare, are being created in Latvia, she said.

Silina explained that Latvia is actively working with Ukrainian partners to find opportunities for technology transfer and the development of military production in Latvia.

And it is clear that our knowledge base in the drone industry also has a lot to do with the fact that we have worked well from the very beginning of the war and a little before that with our Ukrainian partners, the Prime Minister said.

At the beginning of her address, Silina acknowledged that Latvia's foreign policy is changing with the times, but there are national interests from which we must not deviate.

That is why the guiding principle of Latvia's foreign policy remains unchanged - to uphold international law and at the same time to be ever more prepared for harsh realities in the face of the growing power politics in the world, said Silina.

In her address, the Prime Minister stressed that Europe has helped a lot to make Latvia's border strong, to have all the necessary technologies, because this is important not only for Latvia, but for Europe as a whole.

She noted that in 2026 the negotiations on the multiannual budget of the European Union (EU) will be one of the main tasks on the agenda of Latvia and the EU.

Joint and coordinated work, from sectoral experts to MPs, ministers and myself, will be essential to achieve the best outcome for our farmers, regions, infrastructure development and business support, the Prime Minister stressed.

Silina noted that last year, EUR 1.4 billion of EU funds were invested in Latvia, the highest ever.

And strengthening Europe's competitiveness is a constant priority, (...) it is important to invest the funds so that it brings a return, said Silina.

In her address, Silina also stressed that Latvia continues to support Ukraine and knows that in addition to immediate practical assistance to Ukrainians, it is very important for them to be admitted into the EU.

She also pointed out that the Coalition of the Willing supports the efforts of the US President and European leaders to achieve peace in Ukraine - one that would be based directly on Ukrainian conditions.

Unfortunately, there are no signs so far that Russia is ready to stop the war, so together with our European partners, we continue to press the aggressor state, the Prime Minister said.