Latvia wants for NATO to adopt a new strategic concept at the summit in Madrid, because the situation has changed since the last strategic concept and Russia has become a threat for the next five decades, said Latvian Minister of Defence Artis Pabriks.
He stressed that the new NATO strategic concept will account for current threats coming from Russia and will make this summit transformative, because it is important to change the way the alliance’s member states think.
According to the minister, Latvia wants to see a bigger presence of allied forces on its soil both in the form of troops and equipment, but also in the form of more drills and deployment of more military vehicles.
Pabriks stressed that Latvia as a host country is committed to creating a second military landfill to provide troops more space to live and train.
According to the minister, this will be Latvia’s homework. Latvia is also committed to spending no less than 2.5% of its GDP on defence.
When asked if allies understand Baltic States’ wish for greater defensive presence in the region and whether Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia succeed in their goals, Pabriks said allies know the situation Baltic States are in. According to him, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia can accomplish expanded presence of defensive forces.
«Allies understand our problems and wishes. We have explained everything to them. It will not happen on the first day of the summit in Madrit, because there are a number of issues to deal with both for our allies and us,» said the Minister of Defence, adding that the process will be signed and stamped in Madrid.
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Latvia is represented by President Egils Levits, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs, Pabriks and commander of Latvian National Armed Forces Lt. General Leonīds Kalniņš at the summit in Madrid.
As previously reported by the State President’s Chancellery, the summit will adopt a new NATO strategic concept and other documents and decisions.
The 1949-founded military alliance currently includes 30 member states.