Direct Speech, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Investments, Latvia, Legislation, Security, USA

Baltic Presidents and Barack Obama. Photo: president.ee

Thank you, President Ilves, for the warm welcome. President Obama, welcome to the Baltics!

Today’s meeting proves the strategic partnership of the Baltic States and the United States. Last year we met at the White House. These meetings should be continued no less than annually.

Security cooperation, based on shared values, is the foundation of our relations. I thank President Obama for the American leadership. Your support – the European Reassurance Initiative – is very important for our Region`s security. I am confident that the US Congress will pass it without delay. I commend the US in providing troop presence in the Baltic region. We would like to see the US troops and equipment in Latvia as long as necessary. We support US efforts to consolidate firm international response against Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

We must realize that to stop further aggression, solidarity and speaking with one voice is a key.

Today we discussed the NATO Wales Summit. The summit will send a clear message about reinforcing collective defence. We will accept concrete measures to ensure troop presence, infrastructure, and command structure in the Baltic region. Transatlantic relations and the US presence in Europe is crucial for the Euroatlantic security. Europe too has to invest more in defence.

Latvia will increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2020. The Parliament of Latvia has passed a special law on it. Answering the challenge of information war, Latvia will host the NATO Centre of Excellence for Strategic Communication.

During the Summit we will discuss what NATO can do together to eradicate the greatest source of terrorism in the Middle East – militant fighters of the Islamic State. Together we go ahead with the Baltic – US cyber-security partnership that we started last year in Washington.

We reaffirm our commitment to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. We need to work as fast as possible to enable the signing of this agreement.

We wish to develop a real transatlantic bond between Europe and the US on energy.

Recent developments in Ukraine are a further proof of the urgency to reduce dependency on one supplier. Thereby, the US involvement is very important for our efforts to make stronger energy security and develop integrated energy markets in the region. It would also benefit both the European and American economic interests.

I would like to convey my gratitude to our friends and partners for the significant contribution and support in opening the OECD membership talks with Latvia.

The Baltic States and the US have a shared interest in supporting economic development and good governance in the EU`s Eastern partnership countries and in Central Asia. This will be the main priority during Latvia’s Presidency in the Council of the EU next year.

Finally, I would like to stress that the Baltic States and the US are natural partners bound by a shared belief in democratic governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights and civil liberties.