RIGA - The United States' decision to allocate USD 150 million (EUR 132,187,725 million) for the Baltic states' defense will allow investing in the development of critical capabilities on NATO's eastern flank, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (Development/For) says in a statement to the press.
On December 27, US President Joe Biden signed the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes the Baltic Security Initiative providing USD 150 million for Baltic security cooperation in 2022.
"We thank our strategic partner US for this significant support to strengthening the Baltic states' defense, which will allow to invest resources in the development of critical capabilities on NATO's eastern flank, as well as to promote interoperability with the US and other allied armed forces, significantly strengthening regional security," Pabriks said.
Latvia plans to use the financing provided as part of the Baltic Security Initiative to develop such regionally important defense capabilities as air defense, indirect fire support, naval space surveillance and early warning, command and control, reconnaissance and special operations capabilities.
Additionally, the financing could be used to develop the Baltic states' joint MRLS artillery project.
Cooperation with the US is one of priorities of Latvia's defense policy.
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