Latvia approves plan to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP

Latvia has approved a significant increase in defence spending, with parliament unanimously adopting an amendment that commits the country to allocating no less than 5% of its gross domestic product to defence each year.

The decision raises the baseline from the previous minimum of 3% of GDP, according to Delfi.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs said the move reflects the current geopolitical environment and the need to strengthen national defence capabilities. He pointed to broader NATO commitments made following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, under which member states agreed to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, along with an additional 1.5% for infrastructure and related areas.

For 2026, Latvia plans to spend 4.91% of its GDP on defence, approaching the newly established threshold.

Latvia, which shares borders with Russia and Belarus, considers the war in Ukraine to pose a direct threat to its national security, a factor that has driven the push for increased military investment.

By Tamilla Hasanova