NATO must speed up Baltic Air Defense Mission - Rinkevics

RIGA - NATO should accelerate the establishment of the Baltic Air Defense Mission, stressed Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who met with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and US European Force Commander General Alexus Grynkewich at Riga Castle on Friday.

Martins Dregeris, adviser to the President, told LETA that during the meeting the parties discussed the current security situation, the deployment of NATO forces and capabilities and the planned military activities on the eastern flank of the alliance, in particular in the field of air defense.

The President noted that Russia was increasingly testing the capacity and resolve of NATO and its allies by trying to deter support for Ukraine and by purposefully trying to create a sense of instability and insecurity in society.

"The best response is to strengthen our own deterrence and defense capabilities and those of the Alliance as a whole, to increase NATO's military presence on the eastern flank," Rinkevics said.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed the strategic importance of the US presence on the eastern flank. The President underlined the possibilities of Latvia as a host country to support both the presence of US and multinational forces.

He noted that Latvia is responsibly investing in the development of its defense capabilities in order to jointly strengthen the eastern border of NATO and the European Union, security in the Baltic Sea and Baltic airspace, and to promote societal resilience, including against hybrid warfare activities by Russia and Belarus.

The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe welcomed Latvia's clear commitment to invest 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in defense capabilities and to meet NATO capability targets.

Both sides agreed on the need to ensure Ukraine's priority defense capabilities, including through Allied financial contributions to US military assistance supplies and training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Rinkevics underlined Latvia's previous commitment of 0.25 percent of GDP annual military support to Ukraine and the additional approved contribution to the NATO Priority Capabilities Program for Ukraine of EUR 5 million this year.

The President highlighted the importance of the visit of NATO Allied Force Europe Commander and US European Force Commander Grynkewich at a time when Russia and Belarus are conducting the active phase of the Zapad military exercise. The sides discussed Latvia's enhanced readiness measures, including the closure of airspace zones along the border, as well as NATO's planned activities.

Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) also met with Grynkewich in Riga today. During the meeting, she stressed that in the light of the recent drone incident in Poland, it is important for NATO to move faster in strengthening the security of the airspace of the Baltic States.

"Security is our top priority. NATO's military presence in Latvia is essential both for deterrence and common defense. The General acknowledged that Latvia's contribution to strengthening its own and NATO's security is an example to other allies," said Silina.

The Prime Minister said that the General had familiarized himself with the security situation in Latvia and had concrete solutions to make the defense of the eastern flank even stronger.