Next few years will be crucial for development of Army's weapons and combat readiness - Spruds

RIGA - The next few years will be crucial for the purposeful improvement and development of the Latvian army's armament and combat readiness, Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) has admitted.

Starting next year, 40 percent of the total defense budget will be invested in the development of the capabilities of the National Armed Forces (NAF), which is 20 percent more than the NATO guidelines.

"At a time when unprovoked and brutal aggression against Ukraine continues in our region for a third year, we must be prepared for any threat to our security. The coming years will be crucial for the targeted improvement and development of our armaments and combat readiness. Just a few years ago, such investments in defense were unthinkable, but today they are a reality," said Spruds.

The defense budget is planned in line with NATO's principles for defense spending, which promote the development of the armed forces by allocating no less than 20 percent to investment, mainly in the acquisition of military equipment and weapons, and no more than 50 percent to personnel expenditure.

The bulk of next year's Latvian defense budget, or 42 percent, will be used for the development of military capabilities. About 26 percent of the budget will cover personnel expenditure and about 26 percent will cover maintenance expenditure, while 6 percent of the budget will be used to develop military infrastructure.

The main projects for the development of the NAF's combat capabilities are the introduction of a layered air defense system, the purchase of coastal defense missiles, as well as infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, ammunition and equipment.

Almost EUR 100 million will be allocated to infrastructure development. The largest construction project for the NAF is the military training ground Selija, the first phase of which will be completed in 2025. The new training ground is necessary to ensure increasingly ambitious military exercises of the NAF and the NATO multinational brigade deployed in Latvia.

The strategic objective is to achieve a Ukrainian victory in the war against the invaders, taking into account the geopolitical situation in Europe. Latvia will continue to provide unwavering support to Ukraine next year, with 0.25 percent of gross domestic product. It is planned to supply military equipment to Ukraine, to provide training for Ukrainian army soldiers, and to continue the development of the international drone coalition.

As reported, on December 6 of this year, the Saeima approved the state budget for 2025, allocating EUR 1,559,433,634, or 3.45 percent of the gross domestic product, for strengthening defense.

At the same time, according to the budgetary framework approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, EUR 1.768 billion has been approved for national defense in 2026, EUR 1.841 billion in 2027 and EUR 1.655 billion in 2028.