PHOTO ⟩ The NATO flag is raised above Riga Castle

Twenty years ago – on March 29, 2004 – Latvia joined the North Atlantic Treaty, becoming a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Latvia together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were invited to join NATO at the NATO meeting in Prague in November 2002.

At 8 a.m., with the participation of the President Edgars Rinkēvičs, the NATO flag was raised in the Tower of the Riga Castle, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Latvia’s membership in NATO and expressing appreciation to the allied forces in Latvia. On the other hand, at At 7:40 a solemn guard of honor ceremony took place at Riga Castle.

From the first day of membership in the organization in 2004, Belgian air force fighters were the first to protect NATO airspace in Latvia and the entire Baltic region. Currently, the defense and security of Latvia are ensured in person in Latvia by armed forces units and soldiers from more than half of the NATO member states.

Denmark leads the multinational division “North”, Canada leads the multinational battle group. Spain has deployed an air defense unit in Latvia and German Air Force fighter jets provide airspace patrol flights from Lielvārde Air Force Base.

Dregers emphasizes that the member states of the treaty consider an armed attack on one or more of them as an attack on all member states. They are committed to protecting the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, personal freedom and the rule of law.

NATO was founded 75 years ago on April 4, 1949, and 32 member states affirm their commitment to protect each other and every centimeter of allied territory, people, freedom and democracy.