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Europe Today: Latvian Defence Minister discusses Greenland and Ukraine
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Tune in to Euronews' new flagship morning programme, Europe Today, at 8 am Brussels time. In just 15 minutes, we bring you up to speed on the biggest news of the day.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/01/16/europe-today-latvian-defence-minister-discusses-greenland-and-ukraine
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good morning. It is Friday the 16th of January. I'm Maeve McMahon and this is Europe Today.
00:21Your daily dose of European news and analysis live here on Euronews.
00:26Coming up today, the EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Kaya Callas, is finalising a fresh round of sanctions on Iran.
00:34EU ambassadors have been working around the clock to target all those responsible for the violent crackdown on protesters.
00:41Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Oman have been urging Donald Trump not to launch airstrikes against Iran in a last-minute lobbying campaign.
00:51While we wait to see what happens next, I'm joined here in the studio by our correspondent, Shona Marie.
00:56Good morning.
00:57Morning, Maeve.
00:58Tell us, what is the EU planning and can they do it fast?
01:00Well, we know nothing really happens too fast because you're talking about 27 countries, but there were technical talks yesterday.
01:06And as you mentioned, Kaya Callas, the EU's Foreign Policy Chief, is about to propose a package of sanctions against those responsible for this brutal crackdown in Tehran and all across Tehran.
01:15Now, what we do know from sources is there's going to be 21 individuals under the human rights regime.
01:20Those are people who are directly responsible for this state repression.
01:25And then 10 individuals under the drone system, the drone regime.
01:29Now, we know that Iran is a big provider of drones to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
01:34What's outstanding is whether there will be a terrorist designation for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
01:40And that's a really interesting issue because obviously people think this obviously should happen.
01:45But what I've heard from sources is this is an area of state repression.
01:49It's not necessarily terrorism.
01:51But that doesn't mean that the EU isn't fully behind the momentum of the protesters and doesn't have empathy.
01:57And we heard yesterday from President of the European Commissioners, Levandline, from Cyprus, talking about this.
02:01We are looking into deepening the sanctions against Iran.
02:08These sanctions are biting.
02:09So I would not just put them aside.
02:11They are biting and they have their effect.
02:13They are weakening the regime.
02:16And the sanctions help to push forward that this regime comes to an end and that there is a change.
02:25It is in the very end the people of Iran who are bravely fighting for a change.
02:29They have our full support.
02:32They have our full political support.
02:35Commission President van der Leyen there speaking in Cyprus.
02:37And Shona, what is the EU's position on whether or not the US should strike Iran?
02:41Well, obviously, there's no official position.
02:43I spoke to a few people about this.
02:44There's a way there's certain ways of looking at it.
02:46I mean, what would that achieve?
02:47First of all, is it going to be targeted military strikes against the regime?
02:51And is it going to be individuals who are responsible for the repression?
02:55What comes afterwards?
02:56And then there's the issue of whether or not if America were to strike Iran, would that then, in the eyes of a regime, say, delegitimize the protesters, saying, oh, they're just tools of the United States and then they could crack down even further?
03:08We've seen complex interventions in the Middle East in the past.
03:11So the question is, what is it set to achieve?
03:14What will be the aftermath?
03:16And the EU's position is really that if there is an overthrow of this regime, and we heard from Metzola early in the week, President of the European Parliament, that the regime is on its last legs, then it should come from within.
03:26That's the ideal.
03:27The EU will put the sanctions on Tehran and it hopes that it will unsettle it that way.
03:32Mayfey.
03:32We'll keep a very close eye on that, Shona-Marie.
03:34Thank you so much for all those details.
03:37But coming up now, we'll be joined by Andris Sprudz, the Latvian Minister for Defence, a former professor and expert on foreign policy.
03:45He's a member of the Latvian Progressives Party and he's been a minister since 2023.
03:51So good morning, Minister.
03:52Thank you so much for joining us.
03:54First, I'd like to ask you about Greenland.
03:56What is the mood among some NATO allies about Trump's intentions for Greenland?
04:03Collective security in the high north, in the Arctic, is very important.
04:09And of course, that's why also Latvia is able and willing to contribute if necessary.
04:15But at the same time, it is important, of course, to once more underline that Greenland is an integral part of the Danish Kingdom, of Kingdom of Denmark.
04:26And could this bring about the end of NATO, as the Danes have warned?
04:32I will not over-dramatise.
04:34Of course, now we are in the process of discussing, especially the dialogue between the United States and Denmark.
04:42We see also in NATO sometimes there are some dialogues or discussions among countries.
04:50We know already for some time there is the discussion, interaction between Greece and Turkey.
04:55But it doesn't mean that it somehow undermines NATO.
04:58Everybody understands the importance of collective defense.
05:02Everybody understands the importance of NATO as a strong alliance.
05:05And this is mutually beneficial for both, for the United States and for Europe.
05:10That's why I am absolutely believe and confident it's not at all.
05:15But discussions certainly will go on.
05:18Latvia's position is clear in this regard.
05:19Collective defense and Greenland as a territorial part, of course, of the Danish Kingdom.
05:24And some countries, of course, are sending troops for deterrence and surveillance.
05:27What is Latvia doing?
05:28Well, we once more underline the willingness to contribute to the collective defense of NATO, also in the high north.
05:37High north and the Arctic is strategically important.
05:40And we fully realize it.
05:42And we are in different NATO missions.
05:44And if required, Latvian troops or Latvian military presence, to some extent, also could be, of course, discussed and considered in Greenland.
05:55But, of course, the request must be there.
05:58And, yes, the mandate from the government and also the Latvian parliament should be given if there is some additional presence.
06:05OK.
06:05And, Minister, of course, what about the war in Ukraine?
06:08Do you support the idea of an EU envoy for Russia?
06:11Is that a good idea?
06:13Well, we have to speak from positions of strength.
06:17We have to realize what we are dealing with.
06:20So that's why, of course, now in this context, there are some peace efforts.
06:25And we also appreciate President Trump's efforts in this regard and also the contribution by the EU, also the coalition of the willing.
06:34It is important that Europe is stepping up and Europe is demonstrating its willingness and strength to be part of the peace process.
06:41At the same time, let's realize what we are dealing with.
06:44So we always have to speak, negotiate, act from positions of strength.
06:49That's why Europe stepping up is a crucial and primary task and goal for Europeans.
06:56Yes, we can engage in some diplomatic activities, but there must be some limits how far we can go.
07:02And, of course, always strength is absolutely the basis.
07:06We start from negotiations with Russia.
07:08And just finally, we've seen that Latvia has reintroduced military subscription, compulsory military subscription for women.
07:16Would you like to see all EU countries follow suit?
07:20First of all, Latvia thinks and invests and acts actively on strengthening our defence.
07:27This year, almost 5% from our GDP goes to defence investment.
07:31So it is crucial.
07:33It is a comprehensive defence.
07:34We want to involve as many people as possible.
07:37We have reintroduced conscription, obligatory, mandatory, so far, only for men.
07:43But there is discussion in Latvia on potentially expanding, also involving women.
07:48Women now are joining the conscription service on voluntary basis.
07:53In general, in armed forces, around 20% are women.
07:57So we're very proud of these numbers.
07:59We're very proud of our soldiers who are contributing to defence and security of Latvia and NATO.
08:04So that's why, yes, it's a comprehensive defence.
08:06Everybody is involved.
08:07Everybody actively contributes.
08:09Okay, Minister Sprouts.
08:10Thank you so much for joining us this morning on Europe Today.
08:13Take care.
08:14Thank you for having me.
08:15Well, as we're speaking here, EU leaders Antonio Costa, the President of the EU Council,
08:19and Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission President, are getting ready to fly to Paraguay.
08:23Ahead of the prestigious signing of the Mercosur deal, they'll be touching base first in Brazil for talks with President Lula.
08:30For more on Brussels' accelerated trade agenda of late, I'm joined here in the studio by Euronews' EU editor.
08:35That's, of course, Maria Tadeo.
08:37So the big day has come, the signing ceremony.
08:39What should we expect?
08:40Yeah, look, it's finally happening.
08:42The signature around the Mercosur, more than 20 years in the making.
08:46Again, as you say, the head of the Commission and the European Council will be heading to Brazil.
08:52They will meet bilaterally first with the Brazilian President Lula,
08:55who is obviously the key player, is the biggest economy among the Mercosur,
08:58and then head to Paraguay for the signature.
09:02Of course, the numbers, we've heard about them many times now.
09:05This is now going to create a market of 700 million consumers.
09:09This is a commission, but also Germany and Spain,
09:12clearly with huge business interests that have pushed for this deal, rid lendlessly,
09:16really jumping through political hurdles.
09:19Of course, the French government societal pushback.
09:22Again, the Mercosur is and remains to be completely toxic among the farming community in Europe.
09:29And then, of course, there's pending legal questions and the vote in the European Parliament.
09:34And I want to stress, ultimately, this is being celebrated today,
09:37but we should be clear, this is not going to fix the deeply structural issues of the European industry,
09:44and it's not going to save the German car industry overnight.
09:47But, and this is really what Brussels diplomats continue to stress,
09:50and has told me many times, at a time, and this is really the key point here,
09:54at a time in which the multilateral trade system and the EU needs this to survive.
09:59It needs this to make money.
10:01And this is collapsing because of the trade tariffs and the Trump tariffs.
10:05At this time, they've managed to get this deal done.
10:07The timing is key, and that is the value of it.
10:10There's huge optics in it.
10:11And, of course, you mentioned the tariffs, and the Trump tariffs are here to stay, Maria, today.
10:16What is the European Union doing to counteract these?
10:18Yes, and you look, we hear this repeatedly,
10:20this idea of we need to turbocharge our trade agreements with other countries
10:24because the Trump tariffs, of course, announced on Liberation Day,
10:28they were slightly smaller now compared to the initial numbers,
10:31but we've got to be very clear, they have tripled when it comes to the European exports going into the U.S.
10:36They're now operating around 15 percent, before we looked at a rate of 5 percent.
10:41So, obviously, it's making life difficult for European producers.
10:44And the answer now from the Commission is go out, capture the world, and open new markets.
10:48There is no other way for European products.
10:51And that's what we've seen now, and hopefully we can put it up on the screen,
10:54the agenda that they've carried forward.
10:56India is the big goal now.
10:58They missed a deadline to get this FDA, this free trade agreement, at the end of last year.
11:02We know there were really serious, very difficult sticking points in agriculture.
11:06They hope to get that done before potentially the end of this month.
11:10They want to get this thing on paper now.
11:12And they're reaching out to countries in Asia and the Gulf.
11:14The UAE is another big country they've launched talks with already last year.
11:18Indeed, Marisa, our Euronews EU editor.
11:20Thank you so much for all those details.
11:21And the aim, of course, of these trade deals is for EU consumers,
11:25for us to be able to buy goods and services at better prices,
11:29improve our purchasing power.
11:31Because as it stands, the cost of living crisis is still pinching,
11:35especially in countries like Portugal, who are holding presidential elections this Sunday.
11:40Ahead of the key votes, Euronews has published an exclusive poll on who's in the lead.
11:45You can read it on our website, Euronews.com,
11:47but not before taking a look at this report on why these votes matter.
11:52Jacob Janos reports.
11:56Portugal is electing a new president this Sunday.
12:00And for the first time in 40 years, we might not have an immediate winner.
12:05Usually, Portuguese presidential elections are predictable.
12:09But not this time.
12:10With rent soaring while wages stagnate,
12:13it pushes frustrated voters towards the extremes.
12:16So who is riding this wave of anger?
12:21First, the veteran Antonio José Seguro,
12:24a former socialist leader,
12:26pitching himself as a safe pair of hands,
12:29who returns from the political exile.
12:31Then, the liberal,
12:33Joao ContrÃn Figueiredo,
12:35a pro-business MEP
12:36and a vice president of Renew Europe
12:39that promises to cut taxes and shake up the economy.
12:42And we also have the showman André Ventura,
12:47the far-right opposition leader who is a former TV commentator.
12:51He runs on an anti-corruption and anti-immigration platform
12:54and he wants to be a prime minister,
12:56but is using this run to cement his power.
13:00But watch out for the dark horse.
13:02The admiral Enrique Govalle Imel,
13:06a non-politician military man
13:08who promises order and discipline
13:10and who could upset the entire race.
13:13Finally, the insider,
13:16Luis Marquez Mendes.
13:18He is backed by the ruling party
13:21and he vows to wake Portugal up from its complacency.
13:26Though the role is mostly ceremonial,
13:28the president does hold the atomic bomb,
13:31so the power to dissolve the parliament.
13:34And with the current government ruling without a majority
13:37and voters angry about the cost of living,
13:40the next president will not be just cutting ribbons.
13:44If no one wins outright,
13:46the second round will take place on the 8th of February.
13:51And for more news and context on the presidential race
13:58or any of the stories we're covering for you here,
14:00do take a look at yournews.com or download our app.
14:03You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter, Europe Today.
14:06But that does bring this edition to an end.
14:09Thank you so much for being with us and for tuning in.
14:11See you very soon here on Euronews.
14:21Euronews.
14:28Euronews.
14:28Euronews.
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