Latvia will continue allocating 0.25% of its GDP for aid to Ukraine - President
Photo: President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs (flickr.com eda_dfae)
Latvia will continue allocating 0.25% of its GDP for aid to Ukraine. Moreover, this has already been included in the country's budget for 2025-2026, announces Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"We see what is happening in Ukraine. I informed the Secretary General that Latvia will continue providing 0.25% of GDP in aid (to Ukraine), which has already been included in our budget for 2025-2026. Obviously, we also need support from NATO to ensure that we provide Ukraine with everything it needs and do so right now. Ukraine must have the right to use everything it has received on the battlefield without any restrictions," emphasized Rinkēvičs.
At the same time, the Latvian president noted that allies must also make efforts to strengthen the Alliance, including increasing funding for the defense and security sector, with a minimum level set at 2% of GDP.
Rinkēvičs stressed that Russia and its satellite Belarus are not ready to stop in Ukraine. Furthermore, he said, they continue to produce and test weapons to present themselves as a global power.
"Latvia currently allocates 3.4% of GDP to defense. Obviously, in these circumstances, member states can no longer talk about just 2% of GDP. Much larger amounts must be allocated to defense. So, 2.5% or 3% is, in my opinion, the necessary minimum threshold," said the Latvian president.
It is noted that for 2024, Latvia planned to allocate 112 million euros, which is 0.25% of its GDP.
We previously reported that Latvia held the first full-scale NATO multinational brigade exercises. They took place from November 1 to 14.
