Joint press statements by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, 24 May 2023.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (24 May 2023), thanking the Prime Minister for Latvia’s contributions to the Alliance, including leadership on defence spending, and deployments to maritime operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq.

Mr Stoltenberg also thanked Prime Minister Kariņš for Latvia’s substantial political and military support to Ukraine, including through NATO’s comprehensive assistance package, and by providing training – together with Canada – for thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.

Looking ahead to the NATO Summit in July, the Secretary General outlined his expectations, saying: “It is vital that we step up and sustain our support to ensure Ukraine prevails as a free and sovereign nation. In Vilnius we will also continue to strengthen our own deterrence and defence – with new regional defence plans, a new force model, and a strengthened command structure. And I expect we will agree on an ambitious new defence investment pledge in Vilnius with 2 percent of GDP as a floor, not a ceiling.”

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Prime Minister Kariņš,
Dear Krišjānis,

Welcome.
It is great to see you here at the NATO Headquarters and thank you for your leadership and your personal commitment to NATO, to our transatlantic bond.
And thank you for a very good and productive meeting.

Latvia is a highly valued NATO Ally.
You contribute to our maritime operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq.

You lead by example.
Already spending more than 2 percent of GDP on defence.
And committing to 2.5 percent for defence from 2025.

And you host our Canadian-led battlegroup,
which I visited in Ādaži last year,
with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, together with you, NATO solidarity, in action.

Latvia also provides substantial political and military support to Ukraine and we are extremely grateful for the strong support that you are providing, including through NATO’s comprehensive assistance package and by training thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Latvia together with Canada.

NATO can count on Latvia.
And Latvia can count on NATO.

Allied jets keep your skies safe.
NATO has increased our presence from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
And Finland’s – and soon Sweden’s – membership are a game-changer for Baltic-Nordic security.

Today we discussed President Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.

NATO Allies have provided unprecedented support to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s illegal war.
And we will send a strong signal of support to Ukraine at the Vilnius Summit.

Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to retake territory.
And I am confident that they have the capabilities they need to retake more land.

I welcome the significant announcements by Allies to provide cruise missiles and train Ukrainian pilots to use western fighter jets.

It is vital that we step up and sustain our support.
To ensure Ukraine prevails as a free and sovereign nation.

In Vilnius we will also continue to strengthen our own deterrence and defence.
With new regional defence plans.
A new force model.
And strengthened command structure.

And I expect we will agree an ambitious new defence investment pledge in Vilnius.
With 2 percent of GDP as a floor, not a ceiling.

So Prime Minister,
Thank you again.
I look forward to continuing working with you.
Please, you have the floor.

Transcript continues: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_214798.htm

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