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Voxpress:

"Reinforcement along the borders with Russia and Belarus", Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia build a line of defense in the Baltics

2024-09-01 22:30:09Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"Reinforcement along the borders with Russia and Belarus", Latvia,

In the face of Russia's aggression, the Baltic states are making efforts to protect NATO's eastern border.

As VOA correspondent Myroslava Gongadze reports from Latvia's border with Russia, the Baltic defense line, a new reinforcement system along their borders with Russia and Belarus, is meant to protect NATO allies from possible attacks.

Latvia is deploying concrete structures, known as "dragon teeth" as part of the Baltic defence line along the border with Russia and Belarus.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds says the Baltic states are making progress in implementing a January agreement to reinforce NATO's eastern flank following Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"For years we have faced a kind of hybrid offensive such as disinformation campaigns, the use of illegal immigration, cyberattacks and some incidents to our critical infrastructure. This is one of the examples that we are taking measures to deter aggressor states and of course we are working with our NATO allies to strengthen our defenses," he told VOA.

According to Spruds, Russia's attack on Ukraine has prompted Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland to invest in their own defenses and reinforce their borders.

"What happened in Ukraine was additional evidence, it gave us a new incentive to take action as soon as possible. We understood how important it is to protect the state and territory of NATO, every in palm of it. We are doing that now," Spruds said in an interview with VOA.

Latvia's border with Russia and Belarus is 450 kilometers long.

"As part of the overall defence, we have to be responsible for the part that belongs to us. We are relying on NATO, but we must also fulfill our obligations. These are our responsibilities," Colonel Andris Rieksts of the Latvian National Armed Forces told VOA.

The defense ministry says Latvia plans to invest over $300 million over the next five years to reinforce its border.

"This year we will reach the 3 percent threshold for defense spending. We are among six countries that are fulfilling this obligation," said Minister Spruds.

Spruds hoped other allies would increase defense investment at least up to 2 percent of gross domestic product, as required by NATO states.

"When the war started, about eight or nine states were meeting the 2 percent threshold. Now there are more than 20. Yes, of course, we strongly defend and motivate our partners, our allies, to invest, because it is, ultimately, about common NATO. It's about the capacity, efficiency and power of NATO," he adds.

Nato and the European Union's eastern states, which are on the fringe of the two organizations, have also demanded that the EU provide financial support to build a line of defense along the European Union's border with Russia and Belarus, which some estimates could reach $2.5 billion.


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