Russia will use winter as a weapon to destroy Ukraine's energy system - NATO secretary general

RIGA - Russia will use winter as a weapon to destroy Ukraine's energy system, which is why everyone must step up support for Ukraine, including by providing it with air defense missiles to protect critical infrastructure, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed at a press conference in Adazi on Thursday.

Together with leading Latvian officials, Rutte visited the Adazi military training ground, where the first full-scale exercise of the Multinational Brigade in Latvia Resolute Warrior 2024 was demonstrated.

At the press conference, the NATO Secretary General praised Latvia's support to Ukraine with military equipment, ammunition and training. Rutte stressed that Ukraine urgently needs assistance. The NATO Secretary General also believes that support to Ukraine is the right thing to do in order for it to come out victorious as an independent and sovereign nation. It is also the right thing to do "for our own security".

Rutte stressed that the collective strength of the Alliance goes beyond borders and across oceans. He mentioned that the multinational brigade in Latvia is led by Canada and nations of 12 European countries, which stand shoulder to shoulder. More NATO means "more security for all of us", the NATO Secretary General said.

He acknowledged that today's exercises at the Adazi military training ground had made an impression on him, noting that the exercises has made the Alliance ready for any challenge. He said that they give the armed forces the experience of working together, as could be seen in the maneuvers.

"This will make us even more prepared to deter any aggression and demonstrate the Alliance's ability to protect all allies. Latvia is setting an example by allocating more than 3 percent of GDP to defense, which is set to increase in the coming years. We need Member States to increase defense spending and to facilitate the development of the defense industry," stressed the NATO Secretary General.

He added that countries need to join forces but also have the capacity to "protect our people". He concluded his address by assuring that Latvia can always count on NATO, and Rutte is convinced that NATO can always count on Latvia.

Meanwhile, President Edgars Rinkevics stressed that the visit of the NATO Secretary General to Latvia, the talks at the Adazi military base and the NATO Multinational Brigade exercises show that the Alliance's presence in Latvia is strong. In his assessment, the transformation of the NATO battalion into a multinational brigade has been successful.

He thanked Canada, which is the lead country of the brigade, as well as all the allies present in Latvia. The President also thanked the soldiers and officers for the work already done, the successful adaptation and transition process.

Rinkevics underlined that he and Rutte had discussed a number of important issues, both in terms of support to Ukraine and the work needed to make NATO stronger. He pointed out that Latvia allocates 3.4 percent of its GDP to defense.

"We see that an aggressive Russia and its satellite Belarus are not going to stop in Ukraine, nor to stop arming, nor to test our will. Allies no longer need to talk about defense spending of 2 percent of GDP, but about investing much more in defense," the President said.

In his view, the minimum threshold of national contributions needed should be 2.5 or 3 percent of GDP. According to the President, during the meeting the parties discussed practical steps to strengthen the NATO presence in Latvia, as well as air defense systems, as it is necessary to learn from incidents that have happened in the past, for example the downing of a Russian drone on the territory of Latvia.

"We have to do everything to have more NATO here, but also NATO member states have to do more to strengthen not only the military forces, but also to mobilize the defense industry," Rinkevics said.

He noted that there is a lot of talk about what NATO's policy will be in the future and what NATO's future will be in the light of the last presidential elections in the US. Rinkevics and Rutte agreed that there is no need to worry about the internal political process in one or another NATO member state at the moment. The more important question is how to strengthen Europe, its defense and industry, because only then will the transatlantic relationship be strong. The parties also have no doubts about the future and strength of NATO.

"We see what is happening in Ukraine today. I have informed the NATO Secretary General that Latvia will continue to support Ukraine. Next year's budget allocates 0.25 percent of GDP for this purpose [...]. It is clear that NATO must continue to support Ukraine," Rinkevics said.

The President also stressed to the NATO Secretary General that Ukraine should immediately receive to its disposal everything the country needs. Ukraine must also have the right to use everything it receives on the battlefield, without any restrictions.

At the end of his address, Rinkevics said that he was glad to have had the opportunity to be with soldiers, ambassadors from many countries, military representatives from the Alliance, the NATO Secretary General and to see how much NATO forces have developed in Latvia, but this is only one step in strengthening the Eastern flank of NATO.