Nato has been urged to bring back conscription amid fears about Russia’s threat to the West.
Two Baltic leaders put pressure on the defence bloc to prepare for a potential armed confrontation with Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stressed the need to ramp up spending to levels not seen since the end of the Cold War.
He also claimed Nato should discuss the return of compulsory military service to boost defence forces’ manpower.
Two Baltic leaders put pressure on the defence bloc to prepare for a potential armed confrontation with Vladimir Putin’s troops
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Rinkevics told The Financial Times: “There is a need for serious discussion about conscription.”
He added: “Nobody wants to fight. But the problem is nobody wants to be invaded as well. And nobody wants to see Ukraine happening here.”
Estonian leader Alar Karis echoed concerns about Nato’s capabilities, stressing the need to establish a special military tax.
He also stressed Europe needs to match America’s defence spending, effectively doubling current levels.
Karis said: We have to do something. At least have it 50-50 [between Europe and the US]. It would be better for us.”
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Putin, 71, has been elected to serve another six year term REUTERSHe added: “It’s one way to directly put money to defence and people understand where this money goes.”
The Baltic duo spoke about the situation after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania boosted their own defence spending rapidly in recent years.
The three countries now exceed Nato’s two per cent target and are aiming for three per cent.
Nations failing to keep up with the commitment, including Germany, faced criticism from ex-President Donald Trump.
Karis welcomed Trump’s intervention, adding: “It is our defence, and we should do it for ourselves.”
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics
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A number of European countries have reintroduced conscription, including Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden.
Rinkēvičs said: “It was for two reasons: one, trying to train more people was really important as we entered this kind of geopolitical turbulence; two, there is a huge issue of demography in many of our countries.”
Estonia, Finland and Norway continue to use the rank-bolstering policy and Denmark proposed extending its existing scheme to involve women.
Chief of General Staff Patrick Sanders suggested the UK should create a so-called “citizen army” amid concerns about recruitment to the Armed Forces.
However, the UK Government stressed there were no plans to bring back the draft.
