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On 11 May 2026, in Brussels, Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities, the security situation in the region, and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
During the meeting, particular attention was paid to strengthening NATO’s presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank and to practical steps for enhancing the Allies’ deterrence capabilities in the Baltic region. The strengthening of Latvia’s air defence capabilities was discussed separately, including closer coordination among Allies and the integration of modern technologies into air defence systems. Preparations for the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 21–22 May this year and the NATO Summit in Ankara on 7–8 July this year were also discussed.
Baiba Braže emphasised that the security situation in Europe requires decisive and coordinated decisions:
“Strengthening Latvia’s air defence is one of our security priorities. NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities on the eastern flank must be strengthened now, not in several years.”
