NATO must prepare for the worst-case scenario, warns Latvian President

Latvia's President Edgars Rinkēvičs has issued a stark warning, urging NATO to prepare for the most severe scenarios as Russia remains a dangerous and unpredictable geopolitical actor. Speaking to TVP World, Rinkēvičs dismissed the notion that a Russian incursion into the Baltic states would be a contained regional crisis.

"If there is an attack against the Baltic states, it will be an attack against NATO and Europe," Rinkēvičs stated, emphasizing that such a conflict would automatically draw in major powers like Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The Latvian leader analyzed that Russia's inability to achieve a decisive victory in Ukraine, coupled with crippling economic sanctions and signs of internal discontent, does not make Moscow more compliant but rather more perilous. He suggested that strategic impasses could push the Kremlin toward desperate and unpredictable actions, making military deterrence the only valid currency.

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If there is an attack against the Baltic states, it will be an attack against NATO and Europe.

Reflecting a pragmatic view common in Eastern European capitals, Rinkēvičs acknowledged the United States as an indispensable pillar of European security. However, he stressed that Europe can no longer afford to be a passive passenger in its own defense, calling for significantly increased defense investments and expanded regional cooperation among Nordic countries, the Baltics, Poland, and Germany.

Regarding diplomatic efforts, Rinkēvičs commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's open letter to Vladimir Putin proposing direct talks. While appreciating the move as a mature assessment of Russia's position, he cautioned against certain approaches, though the article cuts off before detailing this caution.

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The better prepared we are, the less we will show that we are afraid.