As Elina Kress, communication specialist of the Media Center of the State President’s Chancellery, informed LETA agency, the new NATO Strategic Concept was approved at the NATO summit in Madrid on Wednesday, which foresees a comprehensive and coordinated approach to strengthening the defense of NATO’s Eastern flank and especially the Baltic states.
“Latvia is pleased with the NATO Madrid summit, the decisions taken there integrate our security needs into NATO’s plans and policies and provide an opportunity to strengthen NATO’s presence in the region to the brigade level,” says Levits.
The President emphasizes that this is a historic summit for the security of Latvia, the Baltics and the entire Eastern flank of NATO – the foundations of NATO’s deterrence and defense policy are being changed. According to Levitt, in preparation for the summit, Latvia, together with the other Baltic states, has done a great job in promoting the awareness of allies about security needs.
“The allies have heard us, and their support is genuine. We highly value this solidarity,” the President admits.
During the summit, NATO leaders expressed a consensus that Russia’s actions and stated intentions make it the most significant direct threat to the alliance, and the Baltic states are at the forefront of this threat. In the opinion of the president, in terms of decisions, the Madrid summit is as important as the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw, when it was decided to establish NATO’s expanded presence in the Baltics and Poland.
Levits also emphasizes that the commitment of the US to strengthen its regional presence in the Eastern flank, Poland and the Baltic states is a serious confirmation of the guarantees of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
At the same time, the President states that the decisions of the summit will require Latvia to make additional investments, continuing the development of the National Armed Forces and gradually reaching the defense budget of 2.5% of the gross domestic product by 2025.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the heads of NATO countries and governments at the summit. The President states that NATO will continue to provide and increase support to Ukraine in areas that are within NATO’s common competence. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO was also discussed.
“We are pleased that the accession process of the two countries can move forward. This will not only significantly strengthen security in the Baltic Sea and the Northern flank, but will also contribute to strengthening the security of the whole of Europe and NATO,” emphasizes Levits.
The new NATO Strategic Concept is the second most politically significant document after the Washington Treaty – a guiding principle for NATO policy in the coming decade. Work on the concept was started at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers at the end of 2021 in Riga.
The concept reaffirms collective defense as NATO’s core mission and provides guidance on how NATO can adapt to changes in the security situation. Russia is recognized as a major threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Terrorism is also still a threat.
The Allies have also agreed conceptually to increase NATO’s military budget, civilian budget and security investment program. A document on the establishment of the NATO Innovation Fund was signed in Madrid, to which Latvia also joins. This will allow NATO to continue to be an alliance of the most technologically advanced forces.
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