"Thank you, Trump and Putin" — this statement was made by a Latvian military expert. He believes that it was the crises that forced the country to sharply strengthen its defense — and warns that it is too early to relax, writes Otkrito.lv.
In the context of growing geopolitical tension, Latvia has become noticeably stronger — especially in the field of security and defense. This opinion was expressed on the air of the program "Kārtības rullis" by the deputy chief of staff of the NATO multinational division, Aivis Mirbahs.
According to him, it was the crises of recent years that served as a catalyst for real changes in the country. Moreover, the expert made a resonant statement: "In fact, we should thank Trump and Putin — otherwise, we wouldn't have shaken ourselves up. Thus, everything that has happened so far, in my opinion, has happened for the better."
He emphasized that just a few years ago, such changes seemed impossible: "If I had told the Secretary of State in 2017 that by 2025 Latvia would be spending 5% of GDP on defense and security, he would have started laughing at me."
Mirbahs believes that the crisis not only has not ended but may continue to exist as a pressure factor stimulating development: "This crisis was. It seems to me that it still exists, and it needs to be maintained so that we want to change. Therefore, everything is going well now — because growth has occurred in finances."
The expert also points out a pattern confirmed by research: the further countries are from Russia and Belarus, the less they tend to invest in their own security. Speaking about the prospects for Europe, Mirbahs refers to assessments by Western military analysts: it will take two to three years to eliminate the defense capability deficit. In this context, he emphasizes the key role of allies:
"We cannot lose our relationship with America now, no matter how complicated it may be. Because there are only two countries in the world that can supply what is needed in the next two to three years — the United States and South Korea."
He also provides comparative data: "The USA exports about 36% of weapons, South Korea a significant share. Meanwhile, France is about 7%, Germany about 5%." In conclusion, the expert recalls the old security principle: "If you want peace, prepare for war. We have forgotten about this." In his opinion, in the coming years, Europe has no alternative — it is necessary to maintain close relations with the USA until its own defense industry becomes strong enough: "Right now, we have no other option but to maintain good relations with America so that in two to three years we can stand on our own feet. Then we can argue. For now, there is no basis for that."
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