Latvia should abandon the notion that the production capacities of allies will provide it with the necessary ammunition and equipment - the country must be flexible and self-sufficient, stated Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Monday.
Opening a discussion at the Riga Castle on the role of the defense industry in strengthening the country's defense capabilities, Rinkēvičs highly praised the approved strategy for supporting the defense industry and innovations for 2025-2036, as well as the dialogue between the Ministry of Defense and the industry.
The President reminded that the previous discussion with the government and industry took place in October 2024, and since then the situation has become more tense: the war in Ukraine continues, and considering the situation in the Middle East, there are currently no grounds to expect a peace treaty or ceasefire.
Rinkēvičs urged to proceed from two premises: one cannot exclude provocations or military actions in one form or another against NATO or EU countries, and one cannot rely solely on the production capacities of allies.
"What we see now both in NATO discussions and in the harsh realities of life indicates that such thinking should be forgotten in the coming year, two, or three. We must be sufficiently flexible and self-sufficient," the president said.
He noted that Latvia must be able to ensure the development of the National Armed Forces and the armed forces of the region. Rinkēvičs also emphasized that drone technologies and counter-drone technologies are rapidly evolving and need constant attention, as there is no point in producing goods for years ahead only to find that warehouses are full of outdated technologies.
