US Defense Secretary pledges military training and support for Baltic states during Latvia visit

Europe, News, US August 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States will conduct additional military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, and provide increased training to these countries, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during his visit to the Latvian capital of Riga.

Speaking at a press conference with Latvia’s Defense Minister Artis Pabriks on August 10, Austin said Washington may also send more troops if required to strengthen the region against any possible threat from Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Pabriks told reporters that his top priorities are to get more U.S. military enablers to improve training for Latvian troops. He added that Latvia also needs additional financial assistance from the U.S. in order to buy new military equipment and bolster its air defense and coastal defense.

During his two-day visit (August 9-10), Austin met with Latvian President Egils Levits, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, and Defense Minister Artis Pabriks.

“We will enhance our rotational deployments in the region and intensify our training with our Baltic allies to further strengthen our combat credible posture in the region,” Austin said as he met the Latvian prime minister at the Council of Ministers.

Minister Pabriks, it’s great to see you again – and especially in Latvia. Thank you for the outstanding host nation support, and for your decision to develop a new training range that will enable U.S. and Allied forces to maintain their readiness while in Latvia. pic.twitter.com/GDU73Fp3ZK
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) August 10, 2022

The officials discussed the efforts of NATO to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from threatening NATO allies, continuing support to Ukraine as it counters the Russian invasion, and bilateral U.S.-Latvian relations.

Latvian Prime Minister Karins said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine only strengthens the ties between the United States and Latvia. “We’re completely united in providing support for Ukraine. We must support, and continue to support, Ukraine in this fight against an aggressor that is completely unprovoked, completely unjustified, and … is extremely brutal.”

Austin reaffirmed ironclad commitments of the U.S. to European security and NATO allies, adding that: president. “Putin hoped to divide NATO, and I think what he’s done is unite NATO.”

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades. Latvia is a NATO member state that shares borders with Russia and Belarus.

During these meetings, he thanked the Latvian government for its support to Ukraine as it defends against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war, as well as for Latvia’s hospitality in hosting U.S. military rotational forces. There are about 600 U.S. troops in Latvia.

“You’re supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend their democracy, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity,” he said. “And, so, we will continue to work closely with you and our other NATO allies and partners around the world to support the Ukrainian people, and to bolster our NATO allies”, Austin remarked.

*^{U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets U.S. Army soldiers while visiting Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia, on August 9, 2022. (Image Credit: U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Julian W. Kemper)}*

While the talks remained focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral ties and follow-up on the decisions made at the Madrid NATO Summit in June.

U.S. Defense Secretary Austin also traveled to Lielvarde Air Base, where he met some of the 600 U.S. troops in Latvia and met with Latvian leaders to discuss ways to ensure the defense of an important NATO ally. The secretary told the troops that they will be increasing training opportunities between the U.S. and Latvian troops.

At the NATO Summit in Madrid held in June 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to boost U.S. military strength in eastern Europe, including enhancing rotational deployments in the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The president called for “a persistent heel-to-toe rotational presence in all three Baltic countries to reinforce the combat-credible capabilities of the alliance, in general, and the United States in particular,” said a senior defense official traveling with Austin.

The U.S. will also have brigade combat teams headquartered in Europe that will help the United States and NATO allies to do consistent training together and enhance interoperability.