NATO experts recommend that Latvia increase defense budget / day

As LETA informed the Ministry of Defense, experts discussed the development of the National Armed Forces and the implementation of NATO capabilities, which is closely linked to the ensuring the Alliance's collective protection.

During the negotiations, the NATO delegation has highly evaluated Latvia's defense planning process and willingness to take its share of the fair burden in implementing the capabilities of the ability.

During the negotiations, the experts also praised Latvia's ability to ensure the integration of these goals into the National Armed Forces Development Plan 2025-2036, as well as welcomed the funding allocated to the defense.

At the same time, NATO experts emphasized the need to increase defense budget funding in order to achieve the goals set in this cycle of development at the specified time and extent, the Ministry of Defense said.

Experts emphasized that additional financial resources should be invested in strengthening the combat capabilities of the National Armed Forces, which is directly aimed at the implementation of NATO's capacity.

Although Latvia is already investing more than most NATO member states in defense, the new NATO's ability to impose even more burdens in ability to develop, admitted in the ministry.

The priority development directions identified by NATO are the creation of a combat -capable division, the development of the Land Force Mechanized Infantry Brigade, anti -aircraft defense, and the development of Allied forces.

The Latvian side expressed its readiness to implement all NATO -set goals, stating that it was working on providing the necessary resources.

At the same time, it was noted that it is also important to ensure the involvement and support of Latvian civil capabilities in achieving the goals.

NATO experts emphasized that Latvia's contribution strengthens both the alliance's deterrence and defense capabilities and contributes to the Alliance's transformation process.

The Alliance performs the distribution process of NATO's capacity development goals every two years as part of the NATO Defense Planning Process. Currently, NATO delegations meet with military and civilian experts in each Member State to discuss the requirements defined in the NATO planning process bilaterally.

It has already been reported that the Latvian defense industry budget is planned to increase to 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, but to move to 5% of GDP in the next few years.

The defense budget for 2025 is estimated at 3.45% of gross domestic product or EUR 1.56 billion. Going out of these figures to reach 4% this year's defense budget, it should have been about € 240 million higher, while 5% would have required about € 690 million higher.