Latvia must abandon the assumption that allied production capacities will provide the necessary ammunition and equipment—the country must be sufficiently flexible and self-sufficient, President Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasized on Monday.
Speaking at Riga Castle during the opening of a discussion on the role of the defense industry in strengthening national defense capabilities, the president praised the approved Defense Industry and Innovation Support Strategy for 2025–2036, as well as the dialogue between the Ministry of Defence of Latvia and the industry.
Rinkēvičs noted that a previous discussion with representatives of the state and industry took place in October 2024, but since then the situation has become more tense—the war in Ukraine continues, and given the situation in the Middle East, there is currently no reason to expect a peace agreement or ceasefire.
The president urged policymakers to proceed based on two assumptions: first, that provocations or even military actions against NATO or European Union member states cannot be ruled out; and second, that Latvia must not rely solely on allied production capacities.
“What we are currently seeing both in NATO discussions and in the harsh reality of life is that this kind of thinking for the next one, two, or three years must be abandoned.
We must be sufficiently flexible and self-sufficient,”
the president said.
He stressed that Latvia must be capable of supporting the development of its own Latvian National Armed Forces as well as contributing to regional military capabilities.
Rinkēvičs also highlighted that drone and counter-drone technologies are evolving rapidly and require continuous development. Producing equipment years in advance makes little sense if it risks becoming outdated and filling warehouses with obsolete technology.
According to the president, it is crucial for Latvia to build a flexible cooperation system and develop industrial production capacity capable of supplying essential needs. He also called for reviewing bureaucratic procedures and strengthening cooperation with universities.
Rinkēvičs added that at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara,
discussions will focus on the alliance’s overall defense industrial capacity to meet growing demand.
He emphasized that Latvia is among the first NATO member states to legislate an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP starting in 2027.
He noted that decisions made at last year’s NATO summit in The Hague allow for some flexibility in financing military defense and related expenditures, but the overall funding level is clearly defined. The president stressed that while funding largely depends on economic growth, it is evident that action must be faster and more flexible.
Rinkēvičs concluded by noting that this is an election year, and while various debates are taking place, from the perspective of national security and defense there are issues that must not be questioned or turned into short-term political agendas—and one of those is national defense and security.
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