Latvian Prime Minister: 5% Of GDP For Defense Is Not Enough

A strong economy can only be achieved through strong security.

Latvia’s 5 percent of GDP allocated to defense is insufficient to ensure the security of Europe’s eastern flank; therefore, the European Union should provide these countries with more support. This was stated by Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, according to Delfi.

“5% is not enough,” he noted, emphasizing that the European Union’s external border runs through Latvia.

According to him, Latvia allocates funds to defense not only to strengthen national security but also to ensure the security of all of Europe.

Kulbergs believes that Latvia is spending significant resources to ensure security not only for itself but also for Europe. Therefore, countries on the eastern flank should receive additional funding, taking into account their geographical location and threat levels.

He called on the European Union to assist the countries on the eastern flank not only through defense funding but also through investment and economic development.

“A strong economy is the foundation of strong security,” he said, emphasizing that borrowing alone is not enough: it is also necessary to develop local production and the defense industry.

When asked how to secure additional defense funding, Kulbergs ruled out the possibility of raising taxes. He stated that, first and foremost, it is necessary to cut unnecessary spending, eliminate “leaks” from the budget, and seek new sources of economic growth. Kulbergs claims that the budget could receive an additional 100, 200, or 300 million euros annually, but he did not specify any concrete measures to generate such revenue.

The prime minister stated that he is actively advocating for this issue in the European Council, in cooperation with the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, Finland, and Sweden. In his view, European defense funding should be directed to where the greatest threat exists, rather than distributed evenly among all EU countries.

Kulbergs: 5% of GDP for defense is not enough
In his view, European defense funding should be directed to where the greatest threat exists, rather than distributed evenly among all EU countries.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com