The president of Latvia acknowledged that Europe was “quite weak” militarily and urged other European nations to “absolutely” implement conscription, reports Sky,
In light of the “ups and downs” in ties with the United States, Edgars Rinkevics stated on Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that European nations have to boost their military budgets.
In 2023, Latvia implemented male conscription and increased defence spending to 4% of GDP, reports Sky,
“Seeing what is happening in the world, the decision that we took – many other European countries need to follow that,” Mr Rinkevics said, reports Sky,
“A lot of people are a little bit nervous. People are following the news. Of course strong reassurances [are] one thing, but another thing is other European governments [have] to make sure that we all get stronger,” reports Sky,
Although the government is not considering implementing conscription, choices may be necessary in the future to address the “new reality” we are now living in, according to UK Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden.
He said: “We are not considering conscription, but of course we have announced a major increase in defence expenditure,” reports Sky,
However, Mr. Rinkevics stated that he thinks the US and Europe “understand the risks and the threats” of NATO’s future.
“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,” reports Sky,
In addition to referring to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania as the “litmus test of NATO,” Mr. Rinkevics also demanded that “the overall presence” be increased on the nations’ borders with Russia in light of “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 said, reports Sky,
Mr. Rinkevics stated that Latvia’s collaboration with the United States is “good” but that “we do see the need also to apply equal pressure vis-a-vis Russia when it comes to the peace talks in Ukraine” following the United States’ recent shift in its long-standing stance towards Russia and Ukraine.
He said: “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, reports Sky,
“We are concentrating very much on the United States. Unfortunately, what we are not talking so much [about is] what we as Europe should do, and we see that Europe currently is quite weak,” reports Sky,
“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,” reports Sky,
Situated on NATO’s eastern frontier against Russia, the three Baltic nations are among the highest NATO defence expenditures as a proportion of GDP.
In addition, they are among the largest proponents of Ukraine in proportion to their size, and for years they have been the most vocal in Europe about the danger presented by President Vladimir Putin, reports Sky,
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