NATO worries: Latvia spends little on war

The Supreme Commander of the NATO Strategic Transformation Command General Stefan Abrial during a visit to Riga in talks with defense industry officials expressed concern about the ability of Latvia to continue to fully provide the necessary defenses.

Abrial is concerned that Latvia will be able to continue to fully ensure the necessary level of defense. Concerns are related to defense and security expenditures, which now account for 1,1% of GDP, while the defense budget recommended for NATO members is 2% of GDP.

“I highly appreciate Latvia’s achievements in defense reform, as well as Latvia’s contribution to the international operation in Afghanistan,” said General Abrial.

According to the newspaper Vesti Today, the NATO General stressed that currently there are many new initiatives at the level of international cooperation, therefore it is imperative that all members of NATO in a difficult financial situation maintain a high level of defense capability. To ensure it, NATO recommends that the defense budget provide funding in the amount of 2% of gross domestic product. "I know that this requirement is difficult to fulfill, but it is a goal towards which NATO member countries should strive," he said.

During the meeting, General with President Valdis Zatlers, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defense Janis Sarts and Commander of the National Armed Forces (NAF) Raymond Graube discussed the possibilities of holding long-term training courses for NATO in Latvia, current issues related to national defense and reforms of NATO, as well as cooperation Latvia and its armed forces with a NATO mission on transformation.

Comments

[mitrich]

The National Armed Forces of Latvia have low combat efficiency, although they are trying to correct this shortcoming by rotating their military personnel in Afghanistan (175 people; combat losses at the end of 2010 - 3 military personnel).
In general, due to the economic crisis, due to which Latvia is in the deepest ass, this state is not a competitor to Russia either in the economy or in the military sphere (of course, we are talking about the North-West of the Russian Federation). So the fears of the NATO general are well founded.

[ytqnhfk]

Funny !! Yes -Yes, drive me into debt !!!!!!!!!!!!! Then they take money from them and spend on NATO needs and will not give their own while sharing, they’ll give a lollipop !!!!!!! The debt to give the whole country is obliged FORWARD LATVIA IN THE LIGHT FUTURE !!