“Our top priority at the NATO Summit in Washington was the strengthening of Latvia’s security through implementing NATO’s joint military strategy, which includes the Alliance’s collective defence, an agreement on the implementation of regional plans, including defence capabilities and deterrence policy. The decisions taken at the Summit are conducive to that and strengthen Latvia’s security. Next steps mean intensive long-term efforts for practical implementation of the Summit decisions. The achievements of the Summit are to be rated positively: the decisions passed are proof to the ability of the Alliance to adapt and respond to acute security threats,” the Foreign Minister Baiba Braže states her opinion.
It is essential that NATO leaders agree on Russia as the most direct and serious long-term threat to the security of the Euro-Atlantic space. “Russian politics is war. Russia continues undermining peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic space. Russia is preparing for long-lasting hostilities and poses a growing hybrid threat. Therefore, Latvia will keep advocating for the need for a comprehensive strategy to contain Russia,” Baiba Braže underlines.
Key decisions taken concerning the Summit priorities set by Latvia:
As for further strengthening of deterrence and defence, the Alliance will continue to develop its capabilities to defend every inch of NATO territory from the first minute. The Summit has agreed changes to the NATO command structure that will allow for command and control capable of synchronizing and conducting combat operations in the event of collective defence. It should be noted that the new defence plans outline in greater detail the capabilities that need to be developed by Member States and their industries in the coming years. The Summit also revised the NATO warning system and granted additional powers to SACEUR to enable them to take timely action and make all preparations to counter a military invasion of NATO territory. It is important that the Summit provides the necessary detail for regional plans, providing a uniform understanding of the tasks to be performed in their execution by units at all tiers.
The Allied commitment to strengthening presence on the Eastern Flank remains iron-clad. Latvia will continue providing appropriate conditions at the national level for the increased presence of the Allied forces and capabilities - the establishment of the Sēlija/Selonia Military Base and Training Area, as well as other military infrastructure, including investments in anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence. Latvia will also continue work on scaling up the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia from battalion to brigade level. The brigade is expected to reach its full combat readiness by 2026. It should be noted that the Headquarters of the Canadian-led brigade were opened earlier this July, and that Canada continues reinforcing the presence of Allies in Latvia. Canada has already deployed 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks with support personnel to Latvia, and Canada will supply helicopters to support the brigade this summer. The first exercise for the Canadian-led brigade is scheduled for this autumn. Overall, the Alliance will further develop its defence capabilities, as well as regularly testing and practicing defence plans and deployment of forces.
At the Summit, the leaders agreed on a new NATO support mission for Ukraine, by means of which NATO will coordinate joint provision of training to the Ukrainian forces and the development of the armed forces, as well as coordinating supplies of equipment. It is vital that the Allies agreed to provide military support to Ukraine at least at the existing level of €40 bn until the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.
“We welcome the creation of the post of NATO Senior Representative to Ukraine. The Representative will head the NATO Representation in Ukraine and act as focal point for the Secretary-General’s engagement with Ukrainian officials and authorities, contributing to Ukraine’s reform process and transition to NATO standards,” the Foreign Minister explains. She also notes that Latvia welcomes the statement made in the Summit Declaration – Ukraine’s path to NATO is irreversible.
In the field of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence, the Washington Summit approved a revised plan for an integrated air and missile defence. The plan also details the implementation of the IAMD Rotational Model. It is expected that the introduction of the Rotational Model could be launched soon after the Summit, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the Baltic States.
As regards investment in defence and fair burden-sharing, progress has been made: this year, European allies and Canada have jointly increased their defence spending by 18%. At the same time, Latvia will continue to advocate for the need to invest at least 2% of all Member States’ GDP in defence to enable the implementation of deterrence and defence policy. All the Baltic States have already exceeded the 3% level, and Latvia’s contribution to security is expected to reach 3.17% of GDP this year. While in 2014 only five NATO members lived up to the target, 23 Allies have reached that threshold today.
The NATO Washington Summit agreed a new industrial pledge to expand military production and provide the Alliance with the much-needed critical capabilities, including strengthening the security of supply chains and satisfying the military industry demands in the long term. Latvia and the Baltic States have previously advocated for this commitment.
From 8 to 11 July 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže, as a member of the Latvian delegation led by President Edgars Rinkēvičs, visited Washington, D.C. for NATO's 75th anniversary summit. During her visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with Allied officials, participated in public discussions, and gave interviews to international and Latvian media:
- Baiba Braže met with the Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines.
- Baiba Braže took part in a session of the NATO Public Forum, “Russian Forces Reconstitution: After it, What Next?”.
- Together with the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic States and the Nordic countries (NB8), the Minister participated in a public discussion, “The Nordic-Baltic region: Cooperation in NATO’s northeast” hosted by a US think-tank, the Atlantic Council.
- Baiba Braže gave interviews to international media such as the Voice of America, Bloomberg, CNN, Monocle, and TVP World.
Background information on the Summit
- The meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government, or NATO Summit, was held in the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., on July 9–11. The NATO Summit in Washington marks the 75th anniversary since the signing of the Washington Treaty. The Washington Summit was the first meeting bringing together 32 Allies, including the newest members of the Alliance, Sweden and Finland.
