WEBVTT 00:20.720 --> 00:21.630 - Good afternoon. 00:21.630 --> 00:24.240 The Secretary General and the Prime Minister 00:24.240 --> 00:25.810 will make their short statements 00:25.810 --> 00:28.390 and then we have time for a question or two. 00:28.390 --> 00:30.030 Secretary General. 00:30.030 --> 00:31.630 - Prime Minister Karins, 00:31.630 --> 00:33.240 welcome to the NATO Headquarters. 00:33.240 --> 00:35.500 It's a great pleasure to welcome you here 00:35.500 --> 00:37.180 to the new NATO headquarters. 00:37.180 --> 00:40.780 And also to meet with you and to discuss 00:40.780 --> 00:43.378 a wide range of different issues which 00:43.378 --> 00:48.093 are of great importance for NATO and for Latvia. 00:48.930 --> 00:53.930 We have just discussed the ongoing adaptation of NATO, 00:55.140 --> 00:59.370 the need to change NATO as the world is changing. 00:59.370 --> 01:02.760 And when NATO leaders meet in London in December, 01:02.760 --> 01:05.300 we will boost the readiness of our forces, 01:05.300 --> 01:09.790 and work towards fairer burden-sharing in our Alliance. 01:09.790 --> 01:12.850 Latvia is a highly valued Ally, 01:12.850 --> 01:17.850 making an important contribution to our collective defense. 01:17.930 --> 01:22.470 Your forces are training Afghan troops to fight terrorism, 01:22.470 --> 01:26.440 you host a multinational battlegroup in your country, 01:26.440 --> 01:30.410 and you contribute actively to regional exercises. 01:30.410 --> 01:32.620 This week, as we speak, 01:32.620 --> 01:35.456 Latvia is leading exercise Silver Arrow, 01:35.456 --> 01:39.604 bringing together 3,000 troops from 12 NATO Allies 01:39.604 --> 01:42.864 and providing training for one of four 01:42.864 --> 01:45.730 battlegroups in the region. 01:45.730 --> 01:49.610 Such exercises are part of NATO's strengthened deterrence 01:49.610 --> 01:53.070 and defense in a more unpredictable world. 01:53.070 --> 01:57.430 Latvia also leads by example on defense investment. 01:57.430 --> 02:02.090 You commit two percent of GDP for defense 02:02.090 --> 02:04.980 and you are investing in major equipment. 02:04.980 --> 02:09.110 It is important that we continue investing in our defense. 02:09.110 --> 02:12.133 To ensure that our service men and women have 02:12.133 --> 02:15.963 what they need in order to keep our nations safe. 02:17.116 --> 02:20.960 Latvia is part of a strong NATO, 02:20.960 --> 02:24.360 where Allies stand shoulder to shoulder. 02:24.360 --> 02:27.840 Allied jets keep your skies safe, 02:27.840 --> 02:31.690 allied ships keep the Baltic Sea secure, 02:31.690 --> 02:34.120 and NATO battlegroups in the region 02:34.120 --> 02:37.650 prevent conflict and preserve peace. 02:37.650 --> 02:40.260 In Adazi, troops from nine Allies 02:40.260 --> 02:43.240 serve alongside Latvian forces. 02:43.240 --> 02:47.990 They send a clear message, NATO stands as one. 02:47.990 --> 02:51.020 They demonstrate the strength of the transatlantic bond, 02:51.020 --> 02:53.620 soldiers from North America and Europe 02:53.620 --> 02:57.020 serving together to keep our Alliance safe. 02:57.020 --> 03:01.123 This bond guarantees our security and our prosperity, 03:02.040 --> 03:05.240 allowing us to live our lives in freedom. 03:05.240 --> 03:07.650 So, once again Mister Prime Minister, 03:07.650 --> 03:11.310 it has been a great honor and pleasure to meet with you 03:11.310 --> 03:14.370 and I'm looking forward to continue to work with you, 03:14.370 --> 03:17.690 to continue to adapt and to strengthen our Alliance, 03:17.690 --> 03:19.663 our transatlantic partnership. 03:21.960 --> 03:24.780 - Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary General. 03:24.780 --> 03:26.368 A wonderful meeting, 03:26.368 --> 03:30.230 very interesting discussion that we had. 03:30.230 --> 03:35.230 Latvia is a committed NATO member state. 03:36.090 --> 03:40.420 We, from our history, have learned and know very well 03:40.420 --> 03:42.290 what it means when you are not prepared 03:42.290 --> 03:43.560 and when you are not aligned 03:43.560 --> 03:45.610 and when you are trying to go it alone. 03:45.610 --> 03:50.610 We are investing two percent of our GDP into defense 03:51.210 --> 03:55.290 and the only debate that we're having in Latvia is how much 03:55.290 --> 03:59.220 and how quickly can we increase our defense spending? 03:59.220 --> 04:01.610 Our philosophy is very simple. 04:01.610 --> 04:05.710 The key to collective defense is when every member 04:05.710 --> 04:08.650 can first and foremost take care of itself 04:08.650 --> 04:11.430 and that means investing into your own defense. 04:11.430 --> 04:13.930 On top of that, we very highly value 04:13.930 --> 04:16.220 the enhanced forward presence of the NATO troops, 04:16.220 --> 04:17.750 the boots on the ground, 04:17.750 --> 04:21.270 the men and women from the nine NATO member states 04:21.270 --> 04:24.320 who on a daily basis are in training and in exercises 04:24.320 --> 04:27.067 with our men and women in the armed forces 04:27.067 --> 04:29.700 participating in the missions abroad 04:29.700 --> 04:32.450 is an important aspect that we will also be continuing. 04:32.450 --> 04:36.472 We highly value the joint work 04:36.472 --> 04:39.060 together with our NATO allies. 04:39.060 --> 04:43.368 And going beyond the military investments in our country, 04:43.368 --> 04:48.368 we are enacting a comprehensive defense initiative 04:48.569 --> 04:50.804 involving also the civil sector 04:50.804 --> 04:53.960 down to the family household level 04:53.960 --> 04:56.670 where every member of society, every company, 04:56.670 --> 05:00.370 knows what their role is in case of an emergency 05:00.370 --> 05:03.500 be it a natural disaster or anything else. 05:03.500 --> 05:08.010 So, our country highly values 05:08.010 --> 05:11.090 the cooperation that we have within NATO. 05:11.090 --> 05:12.730 We understand that you have 05:12.730 --> 05:14.620 to begin by investing in yourself. 05:14.620 --> 05:17.360 We are doing this and will continue to do this. 05:17.360 --> 05:20.410 And we're convinced that if all member 05:20.410 --> 05:22.310 states continue in this manner, 05:22.310 --> 05:24.630 our Alliance will become stronger 05:24.630 --> 05:28.550 as a force for good, as a force of deterrence, 05:28.550 --> 05:30.570 to ensure peace, stability, 05:30.570 --> 05:34.913 and democracy throughout the world actually. 05:36.440 --> 05:37.793 - Thank you very much. 05:39.179 --> 05:40.780 I don't see any questions so 05:40.780 --> 05:42.670 this concludes this press point. 05:42.670 --> 05:43.670 Thank you very much.