Latvia joins call for advance warning on ballistic missile tests
Latvia has joined dozens of other countries in signing a US-initiated joint statement urging advance notification of ballistic missile launches. The move follows a recent intercontinental missile test in the Pacific that did not follow customary warning practices.
On Tuesday, Latvia joined a joint statement initiated by the United States calling on countries to provide advance notice to one another before launching ballistic missiles. The statement references existing mechanisms such as the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, which already provides for prior notification of such tests.
The document notes that the initiative was prompted by a recent intercontinental ballistic missile test conducted in the Pacific Ocean region, which did not follow the standard advance-notification practice observed by many countries.
Call for 24-hour advance notice
The signatory countries, including the US and Latvia, are urging all nations — particularly those possessing nuclear weapons — to issue notifications at least 24 hours before conducting tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and space-launch vehicles.
Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that launching ballistic missiles without prior warning to other countries threatens peace and security in the relevant region, as it increases the risk of miscalculation and undermines international stability and security.
Wide range of participating countries
More than 40 countries from various regions of the world have joined the statement, including the Baltic states, most European Union member states, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and several Pacific island nations. Ukraine has also joined the initiative.
