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NATO urges other members to follow Latvia's example to raise defense spending faster

Xinhua, February 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

NATO is pleased with Latvia's decision to increase its defense budget and hopes that other alliance members will follow Latvia's example, NATO General Sir Adrian Bradshaw said at a press conference after an informal meeting of EU defense ministers here on Thursday.

Gen. Bradshaw, the deputy supreme allied commander for Europe, said Latvia's commitment to raising defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2018 was what every NATO member should be doing in order to implement the necessary defense measures.

"Of course, there are countries that have not reached this level of defense spending, but we hope that these countries will help us change the current situation in the world, as well as counter the threats we face. This is an unstable period, therefore increasing defense spending to two percent of GDP should be a priority," Gen. Bradshaw said, adding that NATO was very satisfied with Latvia's resolve to increase defense spending faster.

"We hope that other countries will soon follow suit," he added.

The Latvian government decided earlier this week to increase the national defense budget to 2 percent of GDP already by 2018, and not 2020 as planned earlier. Enditem