US Secretary of Defence praises Latvia’s military support to Ukraine and progress in strengthening national defence capabilities during the meeting with Minister Mūrniece
On Thursday, 13 April, Defence Minister Ināra Mūrniece visited Pentagon to meet with the United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Officials discussed regional security and situation in Ukraine, underlining that Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine will have far-reaching global consequences.
‘US and Latvia will continue to provide all possible support to Ukraine to help it win the war waged by Russia and defend the country and its people’s right to choose their own future. We must do our best to ensure that international community does move on from the invasion of Ukraine and develop war fatigue. Democratic world needs full victory of Ukraine and complete defeat of Russia. That is the only way how we can restore the rules-based international order in the long run and ensure lasting peace is our region of the world,’ Defence Minister said.
During the meeting, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin thanked Latvia for its leadership in providing significant support to Ukraine. Latvia is a role model for other countries in terms of being one of the largest providers of military support to Ukraine in terms of the size of national economy, he added.
While discussing regional security challenges, Minister Mūrniece presented Latvia’s priorities and achievements in the defence sector to her US counterpart, including introduction of national defence service. First wave of volunteers will start their active duty in July when national defence service will be fully launched.
Latvia has allocated more than 1% of its GDP to helping Ukraine strengthen its military capabilities. Moreover, Latvia is fully committed to spending 2.3% of its GDP on defence this year, Minister Mūrniece underlined.
‘Latvia continues to make big strides towards stronger military capabilities for national armed forces. We are finalising the coastal defence system purchase contract with the US. We still need the deal to be approved by the US Congress. I am proud that Latvia has completed its part of the deal in terms of approving the necessary documentation to buy HIMARS artillery rocket systems. We will now enter the stage where we work on the terms and conditions of the contract and proceed with signing,’ Ināra Mūrniece said.
She also called for greater involvement of NATO in securing the airspace above Baltics and presented Latvia’s immediate plans regarding strengthening of national air defence capabilities by procuring middle-range air defence systems.
US Defence Secretary praised Latvia for investing in development of defence capabilities and stressed that these investments are crucial for both Latvia’s national security and NATO’s collective defence and deterrence posture.
During the meeting, officials also discussed America’s and Latvia’s national positions for the NATO Summit in Vilnius, which will take place this summer, as well as defence industry development scenarios and closer cooperation on the Selonia Training Area development project. United States and Latvia are close strategic partners and friends that are bound by shared vision on fundamental values and how to protect them, Ināra Mūrniece stressed.
As reported earlier, Defence Minister Ināra Mūrniece is visiting the Unites States of America on 13-15 April 2023. Minister’s working visit to the US includes a number of meetings with top US defence officials in Washington.
Contact information
Roberts Skraučs
Head of the Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Tel.: 67335393
E-mail: roberts.skraucs@mod.gov.lv
