“The aim of the visit is to deepen political, economic and military cooperation with the United States, which was also the focus of the meetings. It was truly gratifying to hear the high opinion of the Baltic states – both in terms of defence and security matters, as well as energy independence, limiting migration, strengthening the border, and others. Support from both parties in the U.S. for NATO remains consistently strong. They are pointing us out as an example to others in terms of forward-looking and strategic investments in the domestic and external security. In the current geopolitical situation, the politicians welcomed the decision of the Latvian government to move towards 5% of GDP in defence expenditure. We share a vision that Europe must invest more in its security and defence capabilities, advance its security industry and continue on the path to a complete energy independence from Russia. The politicians emphasised that if all the EU and NATO members had acted like the Baltic states, our ability to deter any aggressor would be much stronger. Let me remind you that the EU is the world’s largest provider of assistance to Ukraine – the EU has channelled EUR 134.5 billion into support so far,” says the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, after her visit to the U.S.
She also underlines: “Latvia and the U.S. are on the same page that the NATO summit in The Hague must deliver significant, tangible results, especially as concerns increasing security investment targets – to at least 3.5% of the member states’ GDP. The previous guideline of 2% of GDP no longer corresponds to the reality of today’s geopolitical situation.”
The energy, defence and security sectors were represented at the roundtable with U.S. businesses – the participants including Boeing, Palantir, USLNG Association, and NorthRop Grumman, among others.
During her working visit to Washington, D.C. on 25–26 February, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže met with Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriation, Chairman of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee and Member of the Defense Subcommittee at the House Committee on Appropriations, Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and John Boozman.
