Kulbergs' remarks on European security draw foreign media attention

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has called on Europe to become bolder and more assertive on security matters, speaking at an international discussion in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. His remark, made as peace talks on the war in Ukraine were renewed, has been widely picked up by foreign media.

What the prime minister said

Kulbergs said he believes Europe has enough military and economic potential to defend its interests more firmly and to stop Russia from dictating terms. He put his message in very direct language: “I think we, as Europe, have to grow some bigger balls because we are bigger. We’re bigger in military might, in all the economic aspects.”

In his view, Europe needs to pull itself together and act with greater confidence.

Media response

Several major international outlets quoted Kulbergs, including Russian media. The news channel Euronews posted the quote on social media on 13 November, saying the prime minister made the comment on Friday amid renewed peace talks. In the Euronews version, the remark states that Europe is bigger than Russia.

The Latvian daily Latvijas Avīze describes Kulbergs as the most prominent figure in recent Latvian politics, whose direct and colourful manner of speaking repeatedly draws international attention. The source gives no further details about the discussion itself or the reactions of other participants.