EU Drone Wall Idea Is Very 'Raw,' Latvian PM Says

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00:00I'd like to begin with something we've heard a lot about over the last couple of weeks.

00:03I was just in Copenhagen, as were you, speaking with European leaders about the drone wall.

00:08Do you have a feeling that European leaders have an understanding of what the drone wall is, A,

00:12and B, what do you think the chances are of the implementation of this program?

00:16I think the idea is very just raw, if I may say so, because no one really knows all the details,

00:25but we are really welcoming the idea, because we have been speaking with the Commission for quite a time,

00:33and we have experienced drone attacks on the territory of Latvia,

00:37but as we see, drones don't care about borderlines,

00:43and as well, Russia and Belarus don't care about borders as such,

00:49so we really need to cooperate together with other European countries,

00:53because now the drone threats are reaching not just Baltic states,

00:57but Copenhagen, other countries of Europe,

01:00and I think we are ready to give an expertise on this idea,

01:05because we have already put some of drone, not industries, but drone capabilities on our country.

01:14We are working together with Ukrainians.

01:16We have a good cooperation with them,

01:17and we are ready to give our experience as we have a good drone industry here in Latvia.

01:24And on the question of these sort of hybrid attacks that we've seen a lot more of,

01:27as you say, further and further sort of into, not attacks,

01:30but at least interference and interference with airspace,

01:34do you think this marks a sort of change in the war in Ukraine,

01:37where we're going to see more of a focus on these kinds of interferences,

01:41hybrid interferences within European nations,

01:44and do you think that many analysts say that basically this is Russia having difficulty on the battlefield,

01:50and as a consequence they're going to be doing more of these sort of hybrid threats?

01:53Do you agree with that analysis, and do you think there will be more to come?

01:56Unfortunately, I have to agree,

01:58because now drones are much cheaper weapons,

02:02and Russia are able to manufacture or even buy them from other partner countries to them

02:10in a much faster way than to build a tank, for example.

02:14So, therefore, we have to be ready.

02:15We have to deter our European soil.

02:19And, unfortunately, the war as such is changing,

02:23because Ukrainians have been trying to explain to us as well for quite a long time

02:28that situation in a war, like a war operational zone, has changed.

02:34There have been Shahid drones already flying over Ukraine for quite a long time,

02:39and we have to learn from lessons Ukrainians are providing to us.

02:43And so Russia's tactics are sort of changing.

02:46How should NATO's tactics change in response to that

02:48as someone who is bordering both not just Russia but also Belarus?

02:52We as well have to be prepared for those new challenges,

02:55and we still need those operational plans which NATO has prepared already.

02:59There are capabilities that we need to do,

03:01but as well we need to adjust to this new situation of electronic warfare

03:06and as well to the situation with drones.

03:08Does that mean bringing more air power into, for example, Latvia?

03:12But not only air.

03:13Drones can be under the sea as well.

03:15So it means we have to be more able to do more new technologies

03:20which are much cheaper, much easier to be produced in a much faster way.

03:24So those all complex situations should be taken into account,

03:27and we need to adjust our armed forces as well as our NATO plans and European plans.

03:33And has more NATO power, air power, or otherwise been moved into Latvia

03:37over the last few weeks in response to this?

03:39Yes. As you may know, when we had the shadow fleet, like scandals, I may say,

03:45we established Baltic sentry within NATO,

03:48and now with the drone incidents, we have an eastern flank sentry,

03:52which are NATO forces here, more present than in Baltics,

03:57but not only in Baltics, as well as Poland discovered the eastern flank,

04:01and I believe it's a very good signal for our enemies that don't come here.

04:06We are prepared.

04:06Are you discussing to have more moved in over the next few weeks?

04:09We are discussing, but we are doing as well our homework

04:12to be prepared more of drone attacks,

04:15and we have bought some very good system, acoustic system,

04:18like a library who can detect the sounds of drones from Ukrainians as well.

04:23And much has been made, of course, of the difference between deterrence and escalation.

04:26We've seen, obviously, the violation of Estonian airspace recently by Russian jets.

04:30President Trump said that NATO should be shooting down jets.

04:33Even Orbán has said we should be shooting down drones here on the European side.

04:37Is that deterrence or is that escalation?

04:39It depends on the situation,

04:42because they are not thinking about our laws and international regulations.

04:47We always have to take into account that the Russians will always try to broaden

04:52the borders of what they can do,

04:56but they will try to tighten our borders.

04:58So we have to be ready as well to answer in a certain way.

05:02I don't think we need to escalate,

05:05but if those attacks will come more and more,

05:08we will be ready to do what is needed.

05:10Do you have the equipment you would need to shoot them down if you needed to?

05:13We still all need to work on it,

05:16because we have some of the equipment,

05:18but we need to really work on it,

05:21because we need more and more in a way that it's not so expensive,

05:26which is much cheaper.

05:27We have drones who can kill other drones,

05:30so there are new technologies coming who can jam the drone,

05:34but we need to think about it in a more broader world,

05:38as I mentioned in the beginning,

05:40because drones are not looking for the borders.

05:42Therefore, NATO overall, security is needed,

05:46and Europe's as well.

05:47And another one of these conversations you were engaged in last week

05:50with European leaders is the question of the frozen assets,

05:53the Russian frozen assets.

05:55I think you've made your position very clear.

05:56Around the table with those leaders,

05:58do you think that there's going to be movement on that fairly soon,

06:01on the Russian assets?

06:02Could that happen before the end of this year?

06:04You know, I will say that I have seen developments here,

06:08because previously, sure, there were so many legal issues

06:11and as well financial issues which we needed to resolve.

06:14Now, when the Commission has put the proposal on a table,

06:18Belgium government has asked for many answers,

06:22and we need to prepare them.

06:23Commission needs to prepare those answers,

06:25as well as the countries need to decide,

06:28are they ready to be as a part of guarantees for Belgium government?

06:32Because I really and fully understand,

06:34Prime Minister of Belgium,

06:35that he cannot be left alone,

06:37who can guarantee the amount,

06:40which could be then passed as an immobilized asset amount.

06:44And therefore, I could see some development from many countries.

06:49I'm not sure yet will there be agreement from all of the countries,

06:54because the discussion should be followed up

06:56in upcoming Yuko Summit end of October.

07:00And beyond the Russian assets,

07:01what's the path forward in Ukraine?

07:03You've seen over, obviously, the last couple of days now,

07:05more than half of Ukraine's gas infrastructure

07:08has been either damaged or immobilized.

07:10What's the path forward from the European perspective?

07:12We have a coalition of willing.

07:14We are participating in a plural initiative.

07:17Ukraine still needs some of the military equipment,

07:21which only the U.S. can provide.

07:23So it means we really have to work on many areas.

07:26We have to work together with the United States

07:29as our transatlantic partner to provide to Ukraine.

07:32We need to work on integration of Ukraine into Europe,

07:35because that's one of their security guarantees.

07:38We need to work on immobilized assets,

07:40how we can finance Ukrainian army,

07:43as well as work on bilateral agreements,

07:47because we as well are looking to open

07:49Ukrainian military industry here in Latvia

07:53for to help Ukraine to divide their risks.

07:56And there is so many opportunities how we can help Ukraine,

08:00because Ukrainians are open,

08:02and they are as well open to provide some security guarantees

08:06as well for Europe, as we saw in Copenhagen.

08:08And you talked there about the American hardware.

08:11You've just spoken in a speech saying that Latvia will hit 5% next year.

08:15Spending, how much of that money will be spent in the United States?

08:17And is that very important to keep the Trump administration engaged with the Baltics?

08:21I will not say like the exact number,

08:26but one part of those numbers will be bought from the United States,

08:31because we have bought our equipment already some time ago,

08:36and it's quite a big money for our air defense,

08:39and that is coming from the United States.

08:41And just one final question about some difficulties politically

08:44within the European Union.

08:46The French government is falling every couple of weeks.

08:48There are a lot of big plans about collective action in Europe.

08:51How difficult is it to make progress on those kinds of plans

08:53when you have political instability within Europe,

08:56but also you have a sort of blocking nation within that?

09:00Politics is not easy at all,

09:02and decisions we need to make in a very turbulent situation

09:06are not the easy ones.

09:07But unfortunately, society is demanding easy solutions

09:11or easy responses from the governments

09:14in very, very complex situations.

09:17So therefore, we have to be responsible,

09:19and I believe Latvian government is responsible.

09:23But I have spoken to many colleagues across Europe,

09:26and many of our prime ministers

09:29have been through dismissal votes,

09:32so it means the situation is up and down.

09:35But still, Europe as such together

09:38needs to make responsible decisions,

09:40and we have to adjust to the situation as it is.

09:43And just a final point on that,

09:44making responsible decisions within Europe.

09:46There's been a debate about potentially finding a way

09:48to rather to go from unanimity

09:50to qualified majority votes within the European Union.

09:53As a country that is one of the smaller countries

09:55within the European Union,

09:56who could potentially feel threatened for that,

09:58but also one who is feeling the difficulties

10:00of those who are blocking the system currently,

10:03where do you stand on that debate?

10:04It's not like a black or white answer to that question.

10:09It depends on which questions

10:11should there be qualified majority.

10:14I believe maybe on sanction lists,

10:16there could be some changes,

10:17but not to all situations.

10:18So therefore, it will be the question

10:20which we will need to address.

10:22But let's see, maybe the situation will change

10:26in some of the countries who is blocking us.

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