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Photo: Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
The ruling coalition parties plead for an increase in defense spending to 2.5% or 3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The "New Unity" party advocates strengthening the country's defense capabilities in favor of the continued presence of NATO allies in Latvia and the gradual increase of the defense budget to 2.5 % of GDP, informed the party. – "Homeland and Freedom" / LNNK also advocates a gradual increase in defense spending in the future, Raivis Dzintars, party party chairman, told LETA. Understanding the relevance of this goal is also the relevance of NATO's relations. According to the financial resources, Dzintars estimates that the protection objective should be gradually reduced to 3% of GDP
The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) "is very interested in the process of development. ;auction". According to US President Donald Tramps, the president of the ZZS Saeima faction, Augusts Brigmanis said. But the political force depends more on the vision of the field of experts than pre-election statements of political forces that should not have the prospect of a post-election prime minister, a politician said. It goes without saying that the protection will continue to support 2% an increase of ZZS will still be settled. Brigman pointed out that he was open to this conversation, but one must take into account that the fiscal space is limited and that the political forces that "take care" of the increase of these funds should know who will remove them – for doctors, retirees or others
The information previously provided by the Ministry of Defense show that in 2016 the defense sector budget of Latvia accounted for 1, 4% of gross domestic product, but in 2017 it was 1.7%. In 2018, the defense sector budget was increased to 2% of gross domestic product. The defense budget for this year stands at 576.34 million euros, or 126.8 million more than last year.
