NATO must strengthen Baltics to signalize "dead serious" defense readiness - PM Karins

• Published date: 13 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, May 13 (LETA) - NATO must keep strengthening defense capabilities in the Baltic, signaling to Moscow and Putin that we are "dead serious" about defending ourselves, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said Thursday in a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Latvian prime minister said that with practical defense activities NATO must send a message to Moscow and Putin: "Don't even think of taking this path!"

NATO presence should be strong enough to deter Russia from deciding to attack, to ensure Russia had no reasonable grounds to attack any NATO member state, Karins said. The prime minister said that investing in defense is much cheaper than to risk extreme costs which might be incurred in the future unless the investments are made now.

In Karins' words, Russia has shown that it is ready to attack a peaceful country, which means NATO member states must be able to defend themselves. Canada has already provided a "fantastic contribution" to Latvia's defense, and today's decision to further strengthen the Latvia-based NATO Multinational Division Headquarters North is highly important, Karins said.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau also underlined that should Russian forces invade even a kilometer of Latvian territory, the whole NATO would mobilize for Latvia's defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty...