NATO Nations Increase Defense Spending Near Russian Borders

WASHINGTON—The nations on NATO’s easternmost flank are investing record amounts on defense to deter further Russian aggression against the region.

Defense ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gathered on July 9 in Washington to express their dedication to the NATO alliance and encourage other allies to contribute more to defense efforts.

They warned that anything less could lead to more violence in Eastern Europe and potentially the end of certain nations.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds highlighted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s disregard for human life, emphasizing the need to consider it when dealing with Russia.

During a fireside chat at NATO’s 75th annual summit, he stated, ‘We are dealing with an aggressive country.’

‘Russia poses an existential threat, and we must be prepared for this threat for years to come,’ he added.

To address this, he stressed the need for the international community to be prepared for years of potential Russian aggression.

He emphasized that NATO should not negotiate from a position of weakness but rather from a stance of strength and deterrence.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, former Soviet Union states, have all surpassed the 2 percent GDP defense spending guideline set by NATO to ensure collective deterrence against foreign threats.

Lithuanian National Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas highlighted the importance of these investments in transforming fear into preparedness.

He referenced the Reagan-era doctrine of ‘peace through strength’ and stressed the need for NATO to collaborate with the U.S. regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

‘Russians do not attack when you are strong. If you are weak, they take advantage,’ Mr. Kasciunas noted.

Given that six NATO nations share a land border with Russia, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized the importance of considering this geographic reality in NATO’s strategy against Russian aggression.

‘We must understand that we cannot change our geography when assessing the threat from Russia,’ Mr. Pevkur said.

He also added that NATO must be fully prepared to engage in a conflict with Russia if any member state is attacked.

‘We will defend our countries from the first inch. We will not hold back, and if necessary, we will even take offensive actions into Russian territory to preserve our integrity,’ Mr. Pevkur stated.