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On Wednesday (16 October 2024), at his official residence in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa, to discuss further strengthening NATO’s defences and NATO’s continued support to Ukraine. Mr. Rutte praised Latvia for its many contributions to the Alliance. “You spend almost 3 percent of GDP on defence, you host a multinational battlegroup where Allies work side by side to defend NATO's eastern flank, as well as military exercises to ensure that Latvian and Allied armed forces maintain a high level of readiness and interoperability,” said Mr Rutte at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Siliņa. He referred to Latvia’s commitment to increase defence spending to 3 percent of GDP and noted Riga’s ambition to reach this goal even sooner than expected. Mr. Rutte also commended Latvia for its contributions to NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and NATO’s training mission in Iraq. On Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Secretary General reiterated that “we must deliver on the commitments we made at the Washington Summit,” noting that Russia has relentlessly attacked Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure with winter just around the corner. He recalled that “Latvia has provided extensive military training for Ukrainian soldiers” and leads a coalition that works with industry to supply drones. “I welcome your recent announcement of a new military aid package, including armoured personnel vehicles,” added Mr. Rutte. 🗣 | NATO Secretary General: Prime Minister, dear , Welcome to my home, which is the official residence of the NATO Secretary General, And to Brussels, which is the home of NATO. Latvia has been a robust Ally since you joined the Alliance two decades ago. You spend almost 3 percent of GDP on defence. You host a Multinational battlegroup where Allies work side by side to defend NATO's eastern flank. As well as military exercises to ensure that Latvian and Allied armed forces maintain a high level of readiness and interoperability. You also contribute to our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and our training mission in Iraq, Helping to increase stability beyond NATO’s borders. Today our discussions focused very much on strengthening our deterrence and defence. Since 2014, NATO has undertaken the largest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation. With more forces, more resources, and at higher readiness. But in this more complex and dangerous world, we must go further and faster. Latvia is leading by example with your commitment to increase defence spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2027, though I understand you’ll reach the goal even sooner than expected. We also discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia continues to advance in the east, albeit at a very high cost to them, it has relentlessly attacked Ukrainians’ critical energy infrastructure, with winter just around the corner. So, we must deliver on the commitments we made at the Washington Summit. Latvia has provided extensive military training for Ukrainian soldiers. You lead a coalition that works with industry to supply drones. And I welcome your recent announcement of a new military aid package, including armoured personnel vehicles. So dear Evika, Thank you once again for everything you do for our shared security. I look forward to continue to work closely together in the future. And for now, you have the floor. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ SUBSCRIBE to this channel SUBSCRIBE to NATO News SUBSCRIBE to NATO History Connect with NATO online: Visit the Official NATO Homepage: Receive NATO updates via email: Find NATO on FACEBOOK: Follow @NATO on X/TWITTER: Follow NATO on Instagram: Find NATO on LinkedIn: Find NATO on Flickr: #NATO #OTAN #Latvia
