A unified, strong and combat-ready NATO is the main deterrence tool and the foundation of Euro-Atlantic security in general, a statement regarding the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, adopted by the Saeima on Thursday, 11 June, says.
The Saeima calls on allies at the summit to adopt decisions that strengthen the Alliance’s operational capabilities, the capacity of the defence industry, the resilience of supply chains, and the implementation of technological innovations as well as to significantly increase investment in modern defence capabilities. This includes the development of integrated air and missile defence, including effective anti-drone systems, drawing on Ukraine’s combat experience. The Alliance’s future development must be based on the commitments reaffirmed in The Hague to strengthen collective defence and military-industrial capabilities.
Members of Parliament call on the Alliance to provide long-term and predictable military support to Ukraine.
“Support for Ukraine is not charity, it is a direct investment in our own security. Latvia continues to provide this support consistently: since 2024, we have allocated 0.25% of our gross domestic product annually for this purpose, and Latvia’s total contribution since the start of the war has already reached EUR 1.13 billion. If we want to ensure peace in Europe and to deter the aggressor from launching new so-called “special military operations”, the support that Ukraine needs must be provided not in piecemeal and belatedly but in a predictable, timely, and sufficient manner. We therefore call on all allies to set a minimum annual support threshold for Ukraine of at least 0.25% of GDP,” emphasises Ināra Mūrniece, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Saeima notes that Russia remains the main long-term threat to NATO and Euro-Atlantic security. NATO’s eastern border faces hybrid threats on a daily basis—airspace violations, drone incidents, cyberattacks, disinformation, electronic warfare, and the weaponisation of migration—which directly impact the security and economic situation of the population. Therefore, the Alliance must ensure a timely and unified response to such attacks by improving both political and military mechanisms as well as coordinating non-military countermeasures.
Given the security situation, consistent action is needed to deter Russia, including strengthening the allied presence on NATO’s eastern flank and in the Baltic Sea region as well as greater engagement in ensuring collective security. This includes support for NATO’s enhanced readiness operation “Eastern Sentry” in Latvia.
The Saeima emphasises that NATO’s political unity, collective defence, and strong transatlantic ties are the cornerstone of Latvia’s security. Fair distribution of defence contributions as well as equal responsibility among the allies for the Alliance’s capabilities is also crucial. Therefore, all NATO member states must ensure measurable progress in increasing defence spending and investing in military capabilities. Latvia has committed to allocating at least five percent of its GDP to defence next year, and parliamentarians are calling on other Alliance member states to reach this target as soon as possible.
Saeima Press Service