Rinkevics: Latvia ready to host nuclear weapons if NATO decides

Latvia is not ruling out the possibility of hosting nuclear weapons on its territory. This position was voiced by the country's president, Edgars Rinkevics, who noted that this could happen in the event of a collective NATO decision and the emergence of such a need.

The role of nuclear deterrence in European security

In the view of the Latvian leader, the presence of a nuclear arsenal plays a key role in preventing the escalation of conflicts. He emphasised that the absence of such weapons could have led to an increase in the number of conventional wars on the continent.

«Якби ядерної зброї не існувало, у Європі могло б бути більше конвенційних війн» (If nuclear weapons did not exist, there could have been more conventional wars in Europe), Rinkevics noted.

Context of the UK proposal

The head of state's comments came against the backdrop of discussions regarding the UK's initiative to strengthen nuclear protection for members of the Joint Expeditionary Forces (JEF). This format includes the Baltic states, Nordic countries, and the Netherlands.

Legal aspects and historical precedent

Rinkevics stressed that current Latvian legislation does not contain any prohibitions on the placement of nuclear warheads on the republic's territory. He also recalled that while preparing for NATO accession in 2003, Latvia deliberately did not establish restrictions on participation in the Alliance's collective security mechanisms, specifically the nuclear deterrence system.