Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that the country could agree to the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory if the need arises and such a decision is adopted collectively by NATO.
Rinkēvičs was commenting on reports of a proposal by the United Kingdom to strengthen the nuclear deterrence of countries participating in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). These include the Baltic states, the countries of Northern Europe, and the Netherlands.
According to the Latvian president, there is no legal prohibition on the deployment of nuclear weapons on the country’s territory.
Rinkēvičs also recalled that during Latvia’s preparations for NATO accession in 2003, the country did not impose any restrictions on its participation in the Alliance’s collective security mechanisms, including the nuclear deterrence system.
“If the need arises and NATO makes such a collective decision, nuclear weapons will be deployed in Latvia,” Rinkēvičs stated.
The Latvian president also expressed the view that without nuclear weapons in Europe, there could be more conventional wars.
At the same time, Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasized that no specific negotiations regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons on Latvian territory are currently underway.
According to him, the discussion is limited to the possibility of such a step in the future, should the need arise and should NATO collectively decide to deploy nuclear weapons.
Rinkēvičs’ statement came amid discussions on strengthening the defense of the Baltic states and Northern Europe. Latvia, in particular, participates in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), led by the United Kingdom.
Delfi reports on this.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that Europe should reconsider the balance between military, economic, and diplomatic tools and prioritize diplomacy in its relations with Russia. According to him, further escalation could lead to the risk of a Russian nuclear strike.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the North Atlantic Alliance does not see an immediate threat to its territory and regards nuclear blackmail by the Russian Federation as an attempt to divert attention from its own defeats in Ukraine.
The Russian Federation—an aggressor state—warned NATO in a diplomatic note that it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Alliance countries attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russia’s territory.
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