Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Russia

Latvia has been pointing out that Russia's military activities in the border areas, including development of military infrastructure, cause serious concerns about the intentions of the neighboring country. Moreover, Russia does notify its neighbors in advance about the time and place of such military activities. Therefore the purpose of the proposed meeting will be to achieve greater transparency on Russia's part.

The Latvian Defense Ministry intends to discuss the Russian military activities, including large-scale military exercises organized near the Latvian borders, at the meeting.

In August this year the Latvian Defense Ministry received a letter from the Russian military attache in Latvia with an invitation from Russia to participate in security consultations in Moscow for discussion of further military cooperation on the expert level. The Latvian Defense Ministry then pointed out that it expected from Russia specific proposals for reducing its aggressive behavior near the Latvian borders. The ministry in its reply to Russia also stressed that Latvia had not changed its position and resumption of the political and military cooperation which was terminated after Russia's annexation of Crimea and aggression in the eastern Ukraine was still impossible.

At the same, the Latvian Defense Ministry does not rule out a dialogue to strengthen mutual trust and reduce threats of possible incidents above the Baltic Sea. The Latvian Defense Ministry is interested in activities that would lessen tension created in the region by Russia's aggressive military activities near the Latvian borders, the ministry said.