NATO defense ministers support further development of NATO air and missile defense capabilities, including in Baltic countries

RIGA - NATO defense ministers at a meeting in Brussels yesterday supported further development of NATO air and missile defense capabilities, including in the Baltic countries, while Canada has decided to invest EUR 188 million in purchases of new military equipment for the Canadian-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Latvia, the Latvian Defense Ministry's Press Department informed LETA.

On February 14 and 15, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) was attending a NATO defense ministers' meeting and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group's meeting in Brussels, Belgium, where the Alliance's member states approved further steps to strengthen NATO's military capacities and support for Ukraine. During the meeting, eight countries joined the Latvian-led drone coalition for Ukraine.

"Decisions taken at the NATO defense ministers' meeting prove that the Allies continue to stand for the principle of "one for all and all for one", and they will make regional defense plans even more detailed," commented Spruds. "The decisions taken at the meeting will enable NATO military leadership to respond immediately to a threat. It was also decided to further develop NATO air and missile defense capabilities, including in the Baltic countries," he said.

During the Ukraine Defense Contact Group's meeting, future military support for Ukraine was discussed. Countries that have joined the Latvia-led drone coalition for Ukraine committed to invest resources in drone manufacture and deliver drones and spare parts to Ukraine. The coalition will also train Ukrainian troops on how to use them and integrate with other technologies.

Letter of intent to join the Drone Coalition for Ukraine was signed by Latvia and Ukraine, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. Drone Coalition intends to deliver 1 million drones to Ukraine, Spruds emphasized.

Latvia is planning to spend at least EUR 10 million in a year. The Defense Ministry has received information about drones from Ukraine and has already reached out to local companies, inviting them to propose the structure of drone and spare part delivery to Ukraine based on specification.

The NATO-Ukraine Council also held a joint meeting to discuss NATO's multiannual support program for Ukraine as well Ukraine's progress toward NATO membership.

During Spruds' bilateral meeting with Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair, Blair said that Canada would contribute CAD 273 million (EUR 188 million) to purchase new military equipment for the Canadian-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Latvia, including short-range air defense systems and anti-drone systems.