Over the next 7 years, Latvia will request EUR 7 billion to strengthen its east border, i.e. with Russia and Belarus, which is at the same time the EU's external border," stated the Latvian government chief Andris Kulbergs.
– We spend the most, we invest the most,
and at the same time we bear the top costs," said the Prime Minister of Latvia during the organized
Wednesday, the Ryski Business Forum. He reminded me.
that Latvia spends about 5-6 percent of its GDP on defence. However, as he said, even specified contributions
not adequate to defend the EU's external border
Before the aggressors.
At the same time, he acknowledged that a crucial part of the national budget is spent on military equipment, including those ordered from producers in France, Germany, Sweden,
from the Netherlands and Finland, which represents an influx of cash
for the arms manufacture of these countries
Kulbergs recalled that according to the European Commission's calculations, the Latvian economy was affected by Russia's war with Ukraine at around 1.8% of GDP.
– It's a geopolitical punishment due to the location
in the vicinity of the aggressor, this is the consequence of the limited tourist traffic and smaller investments, only due to the fact that the country is in the border region – he argued.
At the same time – he added – since 2022. Riga has already spent a billion euros to safe the east border (including the construction of a border barrier against illegal migration, the fortification and strengthening of areas within the Baltic Defence Line, or the improvement of the road industry).
At the same time, the Prime Minister called for the common position of the east flank countries in the forthcoming negotiations on the EU's multiannual financial framework.
– Our common goal is to gain more EU support for our region, due to the fact that only with a strong economy can we have a strong defence," he said.
APW, PAP
