The Latvian president has urged European international locations to “absolutely” introduce conscription, as he conceded the continent was “quite weak” militarily.
Edgars Rinkevics informed Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that European international locations ought to enhance defence spending amid the “ups and downs” in relations with the US.
Latvia launched conscription for males in 2023 and has pushed defence spending to 4% of the nation’s GDP.
“Seeing what is happening in the world, the decision that we took – many other European countries need to follow that,” Mr Rinkevics stated.
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Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riga, Latvia final January. Pic: AP Photograph/Roman Koksarov
However Mr Rinkevics stated he believes that each Europe and the US “understand the risks and the threats” of the way forward for NATO.
“An attack against any of NATO member means an attack against other NATO members, Europeans and non-Europeans. If there is a failure to fulfil article five, then I think everybody really understands this is the end of NATO.”
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Map of Latvia and Ukraine
Whereas calling Latvia and fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania the “litmus test of NATO”, Mr Rinkevics additionally known as for a rise in “the overall presence” on the international locations’ borders with Russia amid “increasing risks”.
“What is now important is not only declarations, but also how those declarations are being implemented. I’m fine with the wordings, but we also need some deeds,” he stated.
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“Stop – state border” written in three languages on an indication on the Latvian border with Russia. Pic: AP
After the US’s change in long-standing coverage in the direction of Russia and Ukraine in current weeks, Mr Rinkevics insisted that Latvia’s cooperation with the US is “good” however insisted that “we do see the need also to apply equal pressure vis-a-vis Russia when it comes to the peace talks in Ukraine”.
He stated: “I do see that the United States are right when it comes to requesting more defence spending for NATO European allies. But what I also believe is needed is the kind of diplomatic approach that we tried to explain our point of view to the United States.
“We’re concentrating very a lot on the USA. Sadly, what we’re not speaking a lot [about is] what we as Europe ought to do, and we see that Europe presently is sort of weak.
“We all understand that we do not have military capacity, but we also understand that we need to build it up. So my current suggestion would be – while I do see some differences with the United States when it comes to how to approach Ukraine – to concentrate on our own task to raise defence expenditure.”
The three Baltic international locations – situated on NATO’s japanese flank with Russia – are among the many highest defence spenders in NATO as a share of GDP.
They’re additionally, relative to their measurement, among the many greatest supporters of Ukraine and have been the strongest voices in Europe elevating the alarm concerning the menace posed by President Vladimir Putin for years.
You’ll be able to watch the total interview with Latvia’s president on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips at 8.30am.
