The Latvian president has urged European countries to “absolutely” introduce conscription, as he conceded the continent was “quite weak” militarily.
Edgars Rinkevics told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that European countries should increase defence spending amid the “ups and downs” in relations with the US.
Latvia introduced conscription for men in 2023 and has pushed defence spending to 4% of the country’s GDP.
“Seeing what is happening in the world, the decision that we took – many other European countries need to follow that,” Mr Rinkevics said.
“A lot of people are a little bit nervous. People are following the news. Of course strong reassurances [are] one thing, but another thing is other European governments [have] to make sure that we all get stronger.”
UK Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said the government is not considering introducing conscription, but decisions may be needed in the future to respond to the “new reality” we are now living in.
He said: “We are not considering conscription, but of course we have announced a major increase in defence expenditure.
“We do have to recognise that the world has changed. The phrase ‘step-up’ is used a lot. Europe does have to step-up in terms of its own defence.”
But Mr Rinkevics said he believes that both Europe and the US “understand the risks and the threats” of the future of NATO.
“An attack against any of NATO member means an attack against other NATO members, Europeans and non-Europeans. If there is a failure to fulfil article five, then I think everybody really understands this is the end of NATO.”
While calling Latvia and fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania the “litmus test of NATO”, Mr Rinkevics also called for an increase in “the overall presence” on the countries’ borders with Russia amid “increasing risks”.
“What is now important is not only declarations, but also how those declarations are being implemented. I’m fine with the wordings, but we also need some deeds,” he said.
After the US’s change in long-standing policy towards Russia and Ukraine in recent weeks, Mr Rinkevics insisted that Latvia’s cooperation with the US is “good” but insisted that “we do see the need also to apply equal pressure vis-a-vis Russia when it comes to the peace talks in Ukraine”.
He said: “I do see that the United States are right when it comes to requesting more defence spending for NATO European allies. But what I also believe is needed is the kind of diplomatic approach that we tried to explain our point of view to the United States.
“We are concentrating very much on the United States. Unfortunately, what we are not talking so much [about is] what we as Europe should do, and we see that Europe currently is quite weak.
“We all understand that we do not have military capacity, but we also understand that we need to build it up. So my current suggestion would be – while I do see some differences with the United States when it comes to how to approach Ukraine – to concentrate on our own task to raise defence expenditure.”
