Latvia’s government urged to stick to NATO commitments

World Free Latvians Association, which had once invested a lot of work and finances to ensure Latvia’s membership in NATO, continues carefully following discussions that have appeared in relation to US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s statement in regards to protecting Baltic States.

«Election of the next president is a sovereign right of US citizens. PBLA, as a non-party, global, social organization, has no moral or practical ability to influence. Nevertheless, the American Latvians Union, which is part of PBLA and represents American residents from Latvia, did publicly condemn statements that ‘sow seeds of doubt among leaders of members states and society in general in relation to USA’s readiness to secure principles of collective defence,» – the association informed BNN.

PBLA turns the attention of Latvia’s government and society to the role the country plays in the realization of commitments before NATO. «On the one hand, we wish to commend the commitment expressed by Latvia’s government to increase the country’s defence budget to 2% of GDP by 2018. At the same time, we would also like to urge Latvia’s government to stick to this plan (or even speed up the realization of this plan) to demonstrate Latvia’s readiness to invest in its own protection without having to rely too much on security guarantees provided by other member states of the alliance,» – the association emphasizes.

«When PBLA ten year ago actively lobbied Latvia’s acceptance into the ranks of NATO member states, American congressmen and politicians of other countries were promised that Latvia would comply with requirements of the North Atlantic Treaty in regards to the defence budget to collective security. We hope this promise will not turn out to be empty words that will result in the alliance’s member states changing their readiness to help Latvia in the event of an external threat or, God forbid, an all-out attack,» – said PBLA.

BNN 

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