On Wednesday, 17 June, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at NATO headquarters in Brussels (Belgium), to discuss the Alliance’s security and defence priorities, the strengthening of NATO’s Eastern Flank, support for Ukraine and Latvia’s contribution to collective defence.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that security remains a priority for the new government and that Latvia will continue to contribute to strengthening defence capabilities.
“Latvia is a responsible and reliable Ally. Military forces from 14 NATO countries are present in Latvia. This sends a clear message that Latvia is not to be taken lightly. This year, the national defence budget amounts to 5% of GDP, and we plan to continue allocating this level of funding to core defence expenditure in the coming years. Given the rising number of incidents, we must build a drone defence wall. Strengthening air defence is a national security priority,” emphasised Andris Kulbergs.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the support of NATO Allies, highlighting the operational response of the French Air Force in shooting down the drone that had entered Latvia’s airspace.
“This is clear evidence of the Allies’ unity in action and their determination to defend one another. At the same time, we are constantly adapting to actual threats, investing in the development of counter-drone defence capabilities. The drone industry in Latvia is developing rapidly, offering more affordable and effective solutions. Latvia is ready to host additional Allied air defence capabilities to protect NATO’s external border,” said the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also thanked the US, Canada and other Allies for their military presence in Latvia.
Support for Ukraine was also discussed during the meeting. The Prime Minister informed the NATO Secretary-General of the recently concluded agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on cooperation in the field of drones, which will enable Latvia to draw on Ukraine’s battlefield experience to enhance its defence capabilities. He also informed the NATO Secretary General of the Latvian Government’s decision on 16 June to contribute EUR 7 million this year to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, thereby continuing Latvia’s military support for Ukraine.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening NATO’s capabilities, increasing defence investment and continuing long-term support for Ukraine.
