We had a meaningful conversation with the United States Secretary of State. We discussed support to Ukraine and the peace process, increasing pressure on Russia, including sanctions, and the U.S.-Baltic cooperation in the field of defense and technologies.
As regards funding for the Baltic Security Initiative, the information spread by the media was not an official statement from the United States government or the Department of Defense. The U.S. reviews its security and defense strategies and funding programs worldwide on a regular basis, and this applies to all initiatives, not just those concerning the Baltics.
The programs that are important to Latvia mostly provide for training and co-financing of defence procurement. Currently, the United States Congress has clearly indicated that funding for the Baltic Security Initiative must be maintained. Work with the U.S. side will continue on the issue at various levels, including expert and diplomatic levels.
It is important to note that those programs are not just one-way support – they imply mutually beneficial cooperation that simultaneously strengthens the security of the Baltics and also means investments in the U.S. economy. Regular visits to, and contacts in Washington, including meetings with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the national security advisor, demonstrate that the U.S. consistently prioritizes the ensuring of the security of its allies in the Baltics.