Nato member Latvia to raise military spending to 2.5% of GDP

Baltic country is latest to increase defence budget after Russia's offensive in Ukraine

A Latvian soldier jumps off a military vehicle during Nato exercises in the country last year. AFP

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Latvia plans to raise its military budget and invest in recruitment and air defence in a response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine that will make it one of Nato’s most prolific spenders.

Ministers in the Baltic country signed off a plan to spend 2.5 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence — a proportion bettered only by the US, Greece and Croatia in the latest ranking of Nato’s 30 members.

It makes Latvia the latest Nato country after Germany, Denmark, Norway and others to commit to spending more on defence after the war in Ukraine upended the European security climate.

The three Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, are especially concerned about a wider Russian attack on its former Soviet satellites and have urged western powers to impose the toughest possible sanctions on Moscow.

That concern was only heightened after Belarus, which borders Latvia and Lithuania, assisted Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.

Nato has moved to reinforce its eastern flank with more troops and US President Joe Biden has promised that “every inch” of the bloc’s territory will be defended by the alliance’s American-heavy troop contingent.

But Latvian Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said the country could not “sit idly by” and assume it will be bailed out by allies if it is attacked, echoing Estonia’s call to prepare a defence of the country rather than rely on deterrence.

“We must immediately take all possible measures to strengthen Latvia's defence and accelerate the development of the capabilities of the national armed forces,” Mr Pabriks said.

Latvia is one of the minority of Nato countries currently meeting the alliance’s target of spending 2 per cent of gross domestic product on defence, a goal which was reaffirmed by leaders at a summit in Brussels last week.

The planned increase to 2.5 per cent by 2025 implies about 100 million euros ($111m) in extra funding which will be used for medium-range air defence systems, ground force mechanisation and cybersecurity, among other upgrades.

Some of the money will go on recruitment, officials said, as Mr Pabriks urged citizens to consider joining the army or signing up for reservist training courses.

“The protection of Latvia is a common responsibility of all of us,” he said.