Decisions regarding the creation of unified defence infrastructure have to be coordinated with Baltic, Finnish and Polish military experts. At the same time, we have to keep in mind that Latvia is part of NATO defence planning system, said Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, commending on discussions about the reinforcement of the state border and Latvia’s possible exit from the Ottawa Treaty.
“I am confident that through discussions of our national military defence plan and protection of the country’s eastern border, we will definitely find mechanisms that will be absolutely secure to help strengthen our country. Another aspect is no less important. Finland, Baltic States and Poland share borders with Russia and Belarus. If we want an effective defence mechanism, countries have to cooperate,” said the president.
He stressed that discussions regarding ways to strengthen the country’s border, the necessary resources, as well as the terms have already started in both society and the government. Planning has commenced. Specific decisions will be made by the Cabinet of Ministers and Ministry of Defence.
Rinkēvičs said at the beginning of the year, answering the question about the Ottawa Treaty, he said the opinion of armed forces will be decisive in this whole matter.
Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) have already announced they are against the country abandoning the Ottawa Treaty.
On the 23rd of January the president met with NBS Commander Lt. Gen. Leonīds Kalniņš, who informed Rinkēvičs about the army’s point of view on this topic. According to Rinkēvičs, considering the practical considerations presented by Kalniņš, the president fully respects the opinion of the army.
During their meeting, the two officials agreed NBS will announce specific proposals and the necessary funding volume to reinforce defensive infrastructure along the eastern border at the next meeting of the National Security Council. The president said all of Latvia’s society needs to be prepared for any scenario.
The president also said he invited Kalniņš to provide as much information as possible to Latvian residents while maintaining military secrecy about this topic.
“Discussions about the national defence mechanisms and ways usually employed in this sector are valuable even if opinions differ. What is not respectable is the mutual name-calling instead of discussions of practical topics. This has already become a completely hysterical discussion that only undermines national defence instead of strengthening it,” Rinkēvičs told journalists after his meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
The president said he fully trusts the headquarters of the Latvian army.
He said he also listens to experts who have other opinions on the matter. The president invited organising a discussion of this topic to ensure any potential enemy of Latvia has no reason to celebrate failure of Latvian authorities to reach an agreement.
Rinkēvičs said he has discussed with the PM both domestic policy and foreign policy affairs. As for security aspects, the two officials agreed that the decision by the Turkish parliament to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO is good news for Latvia and the alliance in general.
The president said there is only one country that needs to ratify this treaty. Once this is done, Latvia will be happy to invite the 32nd NATO member state to the alliance.
Also read: Construction of Baltic Defence Line may take a decade to complete
Also read: Latvian National Armed Forces against country abandoning Ottawa Treaty
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