The need for the EU and NATO to forge a real strategic partnership across defence, deterrence and resilience is vital. Such a partnership has been made easier by the accession of both Finland and Sweden to NATO. Latvia offers a case study for the future relationship between the EU and NATO for the provision of enhanced deterrence, defence and resilience. For example, the EU has been instrumental in helping Latvia integrate into law measures to accelerate the dangerous movement of goods across borders as part of efforts to improve military mobility, together with the establishment of joint EU and NATO strategic communications. The EU has also invested in Latvia and the other Baltic States in their efforts to create a new north-south rail corridor to strengthen military mobility and logistics.
National efforts are being aligned with EU and NATO planning. Latvia’s 2025 government budget will make security the priority in addition to spending 3% GDP on defence, thus harmonising civilian efforts to enhance resilience with military measures. Such measures will include a new Joint Baltic Defence Line and efforts to strengthen air defences against drones and other threats. Latvia will also adopt measures to prevent the mobility of enemy forces and reinforce resilience against hybrid warfare, including coerced illegal migration by Belarus and Russia.