Denmark has pledged to send about 800 troops to Latvia to strengthen NATO’s joint defense against any potential Russian aggression in the region, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV) and Danish Prime Minister Mete Fredriksen said on Thursday.
Kariņš expressed hope that such a decision, although Denmark has yet to take a formal decision, would further strengthen the relations between the two countries. According to the Prime Minister of Latvia, these Danish forces would probably be the largest NATO unit from one country residing in Latvia.
“Such a decision is very, very important, because such an additional force shows very clearly to the whole world and, of course, to Vladimir Putin’s Russia, that NATO is united not only in words but also in deeds, and that we really work and strengthen each other, “said Kariņš.
Fredriksen noted that Denmark is committed to ensuring stability and security in the Baltic Sea region, with a special responsibility for it, given that Denmark is also one of the countries in the region. She emphasized that Denmark had responded immediately to NATO’s call to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was immediately ready to send additional forces to the eastern flank.
“We are fully prepared to participate in ensuring NATO’s common security,” the prime minister said.
The exact details of the deployment have not yet been revealed by Fredriksen, who said the decision needed to be formally approved by the Danish parliament and discussed with NATO partners.
Earlier, Fredriksen had publicly stated that Denmark had offered to send several hundred more troops to the Baltic States if NATO so requested.
Mr Kariņš emphasized that both officials agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on peaceful Ukraine was to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Kariņš emphasized that this was not justified – Russia’s attack was barbaric, brutal and criminal, and it must be stopped.
“Our support for Ukraine is ironic. We have supported and will support Ukraine in every way – militarily, humanitarianly and with all other material support. The Ukrainians are currently fighting our battle for democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Ukrainians want the same thing we do in Latvia. “These are fundamental rights: freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” he said at a news conference.
The Prime Minister noted that the Ukrainian struggle is a reminder to everyone else of the importance of not only talking about these values, but also being strong and ready to defend these values, as Ukraine is currently doing. Karin confirmed that he and his Danish colleague agree that Putin’s Russia should be isolated economically. It is important for Putin to lose in Ukraine, so he must also be stopped by the military, which is being done by Ukrainian soldiers with the help of other countries. Also, according to the Prime Minister, Putin must be deprived of the opportunity to maintain this war, to rebuild the army with economic instruments, so that he cannot continue his aggression against democracy.
“We agree that the sanctions imposed on Russia will not be lifted lightly until the loss of Putin and the victory of Ukraine and the complete liberation of Ukraine are clarified. As NATO partners, we are strengthening ourselves individually. Latvia has made a decision until 2025. “It is very important for us that the Alliance has decided to strengthen the Eastern flank – from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea,” said Kariņš.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reportedly reported that NATO would significantly increase its presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank, including the deployment of four new battlegroups, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At present, several thousand soldiers of NATO countries are constantly in rotation in Latvia.
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