Rinkēvičs: Russia likes to scare, but NATO stands behind us
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated at the NATO summit in Ankara that while Russia uses hybrid threats, a military invasion is not expected because the entire alliance stands behind Latvia.
At a press briefing during the NATO summit in Ankara, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs commented on the security situation in the region. He noted that Russia enjoys intimidating neighboring countries, but Latvia and other Baltic states have the full backing of the NATO alliance. Although Latvia constantly faces hybrid threats from Russia, Rinkēvičs believes a full-scale military invasion is unlikely. He stressed the importance of being prepared for hybrid warfare and not giving in to fear, as the alliance is committed to defending every member. "If there is an attack, Latvia will fight, and so will all of NATO," the president said.
Regarding the summit's outcomes, Rinkēvičs highlighted two key achievements: an agreement on continued support for Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression and a commitment by member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Latvia already spends 5% of GDP on defense, and the president called on other NATO countries to follow suit.
Asked about US President Donald Trump's remarks on annexing Greenland, Rinkēvičs stated that Latvia's position is unequivocal: Greenland is an integral part of Denmark. However, he acknowledged that Arctic security must be seriously considered. On Europe-US relations, the president emphasized that the US is an indispensable ally and that both sides need each other.
