Latvia is urging the European Union to provide billions of euros to help cover the costs of countering Russia. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said €7 billion (£6 billion) is needed to fund increased defence spending and offset the economic impact of severing trade ties with Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Growing Eastern Europe Concerns
Kulbergs' request comes amid heightened anxiety among Eastern European countries after a series of airspace incursions attributed to the Kremlin. NATO fighter jets shot down drones over Latvia and Romania last week, and a Russian missile with nuclear capability landed in Poland the previous month. These incidents have intensified fears about the threat Russia poses.
Defence Budget and Borrowing
Latvia wants the EU funds to be in addition to other financial support already earmarked for the country. The requested amount would represent nearly half of Riga's €15.1 billion (£12.9 billion) defence budget for 2028–2034.
Speaking to POLITICO, Kulbergs argued that Latvia deserves special consideration because it is borrowing to provide security for nations farther from Russia. "We are getting our budget deficit to the maximum ... and from that debt, we're paying [for] the defence of the whole [of] Europe," he said.
Arms Purchases and Border Security
Kulbergs stated that much of the cash injection would go toward arms purchases from countries including Germany, France, and the Netherlands. "We fuel their economies," he added.
Latvia shares a 176-mile border with Russia and, along with its Baltic neighbours, has taken a firm stance against Moscow during the war in Ukraine. The Baltics are widely seen as the most likely targets if Russia were to attack NATO. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and nearby Poland are among NATO's highest military spenders as a share of GDP, with Riga estimated to be spending 4.92% of its national income on defence.
