Rinkēvičs: US Elections Will Not Change Demand for Higher European Defence Spending

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs believes the US demand that Europe invest more in its own defence will remain regardless of any changes in the US Congress or administration. The point matters for European countries, which can treat the American position on security spending as a lasting factor rather than the demand of one political side.

Rinkēvičs stressed this on the programme "Kāpēc" ("Why") on the news portal Delfi, where he commented on the possible effect of the US midterm elections on American foreign policy. Midterm elections are US congressional elections held halfway through a presidential term.

According to the president, the outcome of the vote and any resulting changes in Congress or the administration would not in themselves lead Washington to drop its demand that Europe put more of its own resources into defence.

The source gives no further details on what specific spending levels Rinkēvičs or the US side consider necessary.