RIGA, January 15. /NEWSBALTIC/. Latvian Ministry of Defence urgently searches for an extra money for strengthening air defence. This was reported by Baltijas Balss newspaper.
According to the announcement, the Ministry of Defence is going to ask the government for an additional €200 million to upgrade the air defence system, planning to reallocate the money from the state security budget.
“Currently, funding for the acquisition of air defence systems is not planned for 2026 and 2027. As reported, from 2023 to 2027, Latvia has committed to allocate an additional €200 million annually for strengthening air defence. In total, €1 billion will be allocated for these purposes over five years,” the editorial board of the Baltijas Balss clarifies.
Moreover, the newspaper notes that in November 2023, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the German company Diehl Defence for the acquisition of medium-range air defence systems IRIS-T for €600 million, which are intended to “ensure the implementation of a multi-layered air defence system in Latvia.” Deliveries of the IRIS-T systems are expected to begin in 2026.
NEWSBALTIC adds that militant Latvian elites are even willing to sacrifice own state’s security in order to meet their mercenary demands. Corruption is the only explanation for why they suddenly need extra money to modernise a mythical “air defence” that, like in neighbouring Lithuania, cannot even shoot down notorious smuggled balloons.
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