Elina Beketova
Hello, my name is Elina Beketova. I’m a democracy Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, CEPA. Welcome to CEPA’s State of the Alliance series of conversations bringing together thought leaders from Europe and North America to discuss the challenges faced in transatlantic alliance and partners. Today I’m honored to welcome Andris Sprūds Minister of Defence of Latvia. Hello, Minister.

Andris Sprūds
Hello. Thank you for having me.

Elina Beketova
And thank you so much for joining us. And it’s a pleasure for us to have you here today.

Andris Sprūds
Absolutely. It’s a privilege to be here.

Elina Beketova
So I’d like to start with a question of Ukraine. And it has been two years since the Russia’s full scale invasion, even more, how would you assess the efforts of the Alliance to support Ukraine to this point?

Andris Sprūds
Absolutely. It is important to support Ukraine continuously. Ukraine is fighting for its independence, but it’s fighting for the democratic values. It’s fighting for the values of freedom. It’s fighting for the credibility of Euro-Atlantic or transatlantic community. It’s fighting for the rules based international order. So that what happens in Ukraine absolutely has a wider global implications. So that’s why we must do everything. What is it our capabilities to help and assist and contribute to Ukraine. Many things have been done. And actually, it has been also expressed recently by President Zelensky, that a lot of things have been achieved and done, and is being appreciated. But of course, still, a lot of things can be done as well. So two years of brutal war, from Russian side after the full scale of invasion of Ukraine. Certainly, of course, Ukraine must be supported in sustained unwavering manner all the time. It must, the support must be provided as long as it takes with all necessary means to obtain the quick victory for Ukraine. But of course, we also realize that it may take some time.

Elina Beketova
It does it may and unfortunately, we all hope that the war will be over as soon as possible. But just going back to the question of the Russia’s full scale invasion, how do you, how do you think has the, has the war changed the defense priorities of Latvia, and if we talk about Latvia and wider Baltic region, and NATO’s eastern flank.

Andris Sprūds
Well Russia has proved that it is a imperialistic dictatorship. It kills people inside of Russia, it kills people outside of Russia, its absolute disregard for human life. And, of course, things may change. The saying goes, if not every 10 years, but nothing changes in 100 years. So we see this imperialistic expansionism as a part of the Russian foreign policy for years for decades. And of course, unfortunately, and tragically and brutally, we have also the manifestation of this in Ukraine with Russia’s full scale invasion into Ukraine. So that’s why of course, we should contain Russia in a long term and long term perspective as well, we should be ready to do it. Latvia has been facing the Russian hybrid attacks already for years, be it the cyber attacks, be it weaponization of illegal immigration, be it disinformation campaigns. So that’s why of course, we’ve been readying ourselves already for years. So that’s why on the one hand, of course, it is a formative, what happened in 2022 and 21st of February we realize it, it should be even more speedy. But of course already before in 2014, there was a Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine, there was annexation illegal for the annexation, of course of Crimea. So Russia has proved and demonstrated this aggressiveness already for years and Latvia lives next to aggressive country. And that’s why, of course, we’ve been readying ourselves in terms of dealing with hybrid attacks, in terms of dealing also with potential military threats in a very serious manner. And of course, we also encourage and motivate our partners within alliance that of course, we should defend every inch of NATO territory together. And of course, also that we should treat a Russian threat seriously in a long term perspective. We do our homework, we invest considerably in our own defenses this year, it will it is around 3% of our GDP going into the military spending, and of course absolutely, we take it seriously that this defense spending could and should be increased. And also additional tools and means also should be used to strengthen the border to strengthen our capabilities to strengthen our infrastructure also to be a responsible and efficient host nation for the NATO troop presence in in Latvia. So that’s why the best deterrence is a very good and prepared defense. And we do it that we are readying ourselves for different kinds of scenarios. And by doing this, actually we do that those scenarios negative scenarios are precluded from being implemented.

Elina Beketova
Oh, thank you so much. And I would like to follow up on this question on the question of deterrence. So Russia’s full scale invasion has exposed many challenges for the Transatlantic Alliance in terms of defense capabilities, and military production. So how would you assess this? And how would you think, how would Latvia tackle this issue?

Andris Sprūds
Yes, of course, certainly, some challenges we really realized as well after the 24th of February. But I think also the positive developments have taken place, the change of mindset has taken place, so called tightened by [inaudible] has taken place. So the change of times change of mindset. And I think this is extremely fundamental, that we realize what we are dealing with, and how we are dealing with Russia as a threat. It’s been also defined by the NATO strategic concept that Russia is a threat, that we should be ready to contain Russia, again, in the long term. And of course, the important part is that we invest seriously and responsibly in our own defenses, that 2% commitment is absolutely the threshold which should be achieved, because it is about making our defense efficient. It’s also fulfilling our own commitments, and being credible about our own commitments, that we follow commitments, the follow up pledges, what we have made. Of course, also, the military industry comes into the picture as well as an important integral part because also, you realize that security of supply is extremely important. And that’s why military industrial base must be developed as well. So also, the planning was in NATO, and we switched to the regional plans, adopted also in Vilnius NATO Summit. Last year, that, of course, we put more of an emphasis on defense, that the NATO territory should be defended from the first inch of NATO territory. So that’s what absolutely there are things which have already been taken place, there is a unified approach. But it doesn’t mean that there is no still potential for expanding, developing, strengthening our defense capabilities even farther. Absolutely, of course, we should make also those next steps. And it starts with the political commitment and determination to invest, to explain to society how important it is to strengthen our defenses, because it is sort of the centerpiece of our security and our well being. And, of course, also in supporting Ukraine once more. So these things should be very much looked in a common context and a common perspective, that also by developing our own military industry, investing our own defense capabilities, of course, we can help Ukraine. Ukraine, which fights for its own freedom, which also fights for our freedom as well.

Elina Beketova
Well, thank you so much, Minister, because this is very important. And we hope that this unity of the Transatlantic Alliance will exist. And I just wanted to raise a few very pleasant news with Sweden, accessing the NATO, and how would you say, like in terms of everything, what is going on right now, it will probably change the whole defense and security situation in the Baltic region. Especially taking into account that NATO allies will basically will, will surround the Baltic Sea. So how do you think, will it change the security situation there, or not really.

Andris Sprūds
Sweden and Finland joining is a very important step, very positive step, as you mentioned, and certainly it is beneficial for all involved. It’s beneficial for Sweden and Finland joining. It strengthens the Finland’s and Sweden’s defenses as well. It creates, of course, the even stronger community, within NATO, all for one, one for all. And in this regard, of course, also, this is being strengthened, of course, also Sweden and Finland additional security and defense providers and contributors to the wider Alliance security defense. And it certainly strengthens also the region, the Baltic Sea region. Now, there is much more even integrated, that it provides additional strategic depth to all countries in the Baltic Sea region. In it also, of course strengthens the Baltic defense as well. We have already agreement with Sweden that Sweden is moving forward with deploying also the battalion size in Latvia. Of course, we already have seen it with Denmark, so the force of being present and not only but for the Slavic countries as well in a in a NATO battle group. So that’s why at the very end, I think that is beneficial to Sweden, to region, to Latvia and the Baltic countries, and to NATO as a whole. It once more shows that NATO is able to deal with those challenges that it is appealing and attractive. It is appealing and attractive as a additional defense collective security tool instrumentalisation, which has proved itself to be the most successful collective defense alliance in the human history.

Elina Beketova
Well, this this sounds really nice when we hope so. In other pleasant news is that Latvia is celebrating 20 years of its 20 years anniversary since joining NATO, how would you assess the partnership between Alliance and Latvia?

Andris Sprūds
Well of course, Latvia is part of the Alliance. It’s integral part. And we’ve been together with the allies for 20 years, but for alliances and yes, absolutely. Those two decades have proven so important instrumental also for Latvia security and defense. Yes, we have two fists of our defense, one face then one pillar is other owned armed Armed Forces, which we of course, should strengthen and be strengthening for years. And it is very efficient and forceful in many ways, and ready to to act and react. At the same time. Of course, another pillar of our defense and security is our NATO allies. So we are part of the most successful alliance in human history. And of course, we defend the NATO territory together. So that’s why of course, those 20 years have been very important in developing the additional, inter, interoperability, the presence of NATO. NATO has reacted really after 2014. It has additionally strengthened its presence after 2022. Of course, Latvia is also doing its part, also contributing to Latvian defenses, but also to the NATO alliance, their defense and strengths. But that’s why of course it is absolutely the win win for all involved. So as I mentioned about Sweden, it has been the same road also for Latvia. It has been beneficial to NATO as Alliance, and also, of course, to Latvia.

Elina Beketova
Minister, well, congratulations. Well, on the 20 years of anniversary to Latvia. But also, as you know, this year is not only 20 years anniversary of Latvia joining NATO, but there is another historic event 75th anniversary of NATO, and what would you would you wait for from the NATO summit in July here in DC? And how would you assess that this summit will be successful?

Andris Sprūds
Yes it is 75 years of NATO being established. And it is quite a period. It is quite already the lengthy time since it has been in action in the months more, we must remind ourselves that the NATO countries have never been attacked directly by some kind of adversaries or enemies, even though the Fifth Article has been invoked against terrorist attacks, and mutual support. But, of course, that’s why the NATO has demonstrated its strength during those 25 years. But this is also comes in the very challenging times. It comes in times when the unitity must be once more strongly demonstrated. So once more when we should also speak from positions of strength, that we are ready to deal with those challenges, that we are ready to deal with adversaries, and to sustain the rules based international order to defend the ally to defend the member states as well as in NATO. So that’s why of course the manifestation the messaging of strategic communication of unity is very important. So of course it has its symbolism, and we should prove that we are united and we are absolutely dealing together with those external challenges. It’s important also, of course, to make practical steps, the practical steps in terms of implementing the regional plans, adopted in Vilnius Summit. But those regional plans also of course, should be also implemented that certainly those specific practical steps also could and should be done during the Washington NATO Summit. Also the air defense systems there is still a steps to make and also traditional integrator make those air defense systems, ajoint and integrated and even more efficient. And last but not least, it’s of course, supporting Ukraine. So once more unity in face of the external challenges in face of external adversaries. Launching aggressive policies. So that’s why of course also, we should support Ukraine as much as possible to provide all necessary means, on strategic level to move closer Ukraine to the membership of NATO. Also, the NATO Ukraine Council, of course, is one of the frameworks to have those strategic dialogues and additional convergence, but also specific practical steps, helping Ukrainian army, Ukrainian soldiers, Ukraine as a country also to withhold and to win this war and to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

Elina Beketova
Thank you so much, Minister Sprūds. For all your remarks. For all your insights, and we appreciate you being here with us today. Thank you so much for tuning in. And please visit our website cepa.org and please follow our social media accounts to stay updated to all our recent analysis and upcoming events. Thank you.

Andris Sprūds
Thank you so much. And of course, we do a common joint effort. It’s also a strong partnership, and CEPA is doing an excellent job. And so I have been privileged also to have this discussion today. So thank you so much for what you do, and of course for the future cooperation.

Elina Beketova
Thank you so much.