Latvia will continue to allocate 0.25% of its GDP for assistance to Ukraine. This was announced by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Ādaži military range.
"We see what is happening in Ukraine. I informed the Secretary General that Latvia will continue to provide (Ukraine) with assistance of 0.25% of GDP, and this is already included in our budget for 2025-2026. Obviously, we also need support from NATO to provide Ukraine with everything it needs and to do so right now. So that Ukraine has the right to use on the battlefield everything it has received without any restrictions," emphasized Rinkēvičs.
He noted that allies must make efforts to strengthen the Alliance, including increasing funding for the defense and security sector, the minimum level of which is set at 2% of GDP.
"Latvia currently allocates 3.4% of GDP to defense. We see that aggressive Russia and its satellite Belarus are not ready to stop in Ukraine; they continue to produce and test weapons to present themselves as a global power. Clearly, in these conditions, member countries can no longer talk only about 2% of GDP; much larger sums must be allocated for defense. So, 2.5% or 3%, in my opinion, is the necessary minimum threshold," said the President of Latvia.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the assistance Latvia is providing to Ukraine, including military equipment supplies, ammunition, and training for military personnel.
"Ukraine urgently needs our help. Putin will use winter as a weapon; he is trying to destroy Ukraine's energy system. Therefore, we all must strengthen our support for Ukraine, including bolstering the air defense system to protect critical infrastructure... By helping Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state to win, we are taking the right step for our own security," emphasized the Alliance leader.
Speaking about the goals of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, the Secretary General emphasized that it would focus on supporting Ukraine, increasing defense spending, and expanding the production capacities of the defense industry.
"First and foremost, we must ensure that Ukraine wins and that Putin does not win in Ukraine — this is the absolute number one priority. In addition, there are two other important issues. First, defense spending. Excluding (U.S. funding), the 2% we currently have in Europe is insufficient. So we need to discuss the possibility of spending more. The other major issue is defense production. We are not producing enough at the moment. We must produce more to replenish our stocks and be ready to meet any adversary," emphasized Rutte.
According to him, NATO allies will work on solving these issues in close cooperation with strategic partners, including the EU and Indo-Pacific countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
