Scholz: Germany stands shoulder to shoulder with Baltic states

RIGA - Germany stands shoulder to shoulder with the Baltic states and is ready to defend every inch of NATO territory, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today after a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.

Scholz acknowledged that these are difficult times in international politics and that some of the things we relied on are no longer what they should be, in particular with regard to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The German chancellor noted that Latvia and Germany have been close partners for the past 20 years in the EU and NATO, with Germany contributing to NATO's eastern flank with its troops in Lithuania and airspace control in Estonia and now Latvia.

"I am aware that this cooperation involves sending a message of solidarity and our NATO principles -- that we stand up for each other and are ready to defend every inch of NATO territory together. This is also my message to the Baltic states -- we stand together shoulder to shoulder," Scholz said.

Turning attention to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Scholz said that the West "must do more and enough to support Ukraine."

The chancellor indicated that Germany is providing large amounts of support -- almost 28 billion euros in total in arms supplies and other forms of aid.

Scholz also welcomed recent decisions to support Ukraine more broadly, such as the Czech ammunition supply initiative.