RT.com
14 May 2022, 15:43 GMT+10
Latvia's foreign minister has embraced Finland and Sweden's plans to join the alliance
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has said his country approves of Finland and Sweden joining NATO, noting that their addition to the US-led military bloc will turn the Baltic Sea into "a NATO sea" in a Friday interview with the Financial Times.
Along with his counterparts in Estonia and Lithuania, Rinkevics expressed his eagerness to ratify the membership applications of the two Nordic countries. All three told the Times they would benefit from Finland and Sweden's military strength, particularly Finland's US fighter jet fleet.
Despite his unmitigated support for the accession of Russia's northern neighbors to NATO, however, Rinkevics is hoping for more NATO troops in his country. The transformation of the Baltic into a NATO asset "does not change our demands for NATO increase in [the] Baltic region," the FM said, adding that "there are still issues to be addressed" and that "the current security situation requires bolder plans by the alliance."
While NATO sent 1,000 extra troops each to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from European member states earlier this year, the countries have demanded more, calling for brigades of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers and an air defense upgrade that would enable them to shoot down Russian planes.
Before Moscow's attack on Ukraine, the Baltics claimed to be concerned about Russia potentially invading their region via the Suwalki gap, the comparatively short (65km) border region between Poland and Lithuania sandwiched between Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region. All three nations are reportedly increasing their defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, well above the NATO requirement of 2%.
Russia warned on Thursday that Finland joining the bloc would pose a direct threat and require a response from Moscow following the country's announcement that it planned to seek membership with an eye toward submitting a formal application as soon as next Monday. Finland shares an 833-mile (1,340-kilometer) land border with Russia.
Sweden reportedly plans to make its own formal request to join NATO next week, though some factions of the government are more enthusiastic than others regarding the prospect.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
(Photo credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images) The Texas Rangers activated outfielder Wyatt Langford from the 10-day IL on Saturday...
(Photo credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images) The New York Yankees have signed third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a minor league...
(Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images) Veteran wide receiver Chase Claypool, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2023, is confident...
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) Ramon Laureano and Jacob Stallings delivered run-scoring doubles in the 10th inning to help...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) Bobby Jenks, a member of the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series championship team, died...