Latvian defmin: Baltic states' joint defense procurements showing first results

  • 2017-12-10
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - The Baltic states' talks on possible joint defense purchases are showing first tentative results, but it is too early still to talk about concrete deadlines for making these decisions, Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis told BNS on Friday.

The minister mentioned self-propelled equipment using standard ammunition as one type of weaponry on which the Baltic states could reach an agreement.

Bergmanis said that Friday's talks of the Baltic defense ministers dealt with the activities of NATO's enhanced forward presence battlegroups in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The ministers discussed the conclusions drawn so far, as well as how to move forward. Bergmanis noted that Slovakia and the Czech Republic are also due to deploy their troops in Latvia next year.

The ministers also discussed a possibility of joint exercises of the ground troops, as well as started discussing possible closer coordination with air defense and naval forces, Bergmanis said.

The defense ministers of the Baltic states meet regularly twice a year.