On Monday, 7 March, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the security situation in Europe and support to Ukraine since the beginning of military invasion by the Putin regime.
State Secretary and Prime Minister discussed decisions already adopted to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and the contribution of the United States, as well as need to continue eastern flank reinforcement in the long run. Prime Minister Kariņš thanked Secretary Blinken for the U.S. role in bringing Allies together in support of Ukraine to send Putin’s regime into international isolation.
Meeting between both officials mostly focused on security situation in Europe and strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank. Krišjānis Kariņš thanked U.S. for increasing its presence in Eastern Europe, especially Latvia. Latvia welcomes stronger permanent presence of U.S. military and further support in bolstering Latvia’s defence capabilities, said Prime Minister. He stressed Latvia’s intent to bring defence spending to 2.5 % of GDP in the next three years.
Prime Minister also mentioned that Latvia has provided and continues to provide both humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. Latvia has supported the granting of the EU candidate country status to Ukraine. Latvia is also open to refugees from Ukraine. People of Latvia have demonstrated strong support to Ukraine, for example, by collecting more than 5 million euros in donations over a short period of time, Prime Minister Kariņš emphasized.
