RIGA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said on Monday that Latvia must be flexible and self-sufficient in producing ammunition and military equipment.
Opening a discussion on strengthening Latvia's defense capabilities, Rinkevics said that the geopolitical situation is becoming increasingly tense, and therefore the country must become more self-sufficient in supplying military equipment and ammunition, according to a statement of the presidential office.
"We must be capable of covering the essentials for the development of our own armed forces and those of the region ... This applies to ammunition and military equipment," he said.
The experience from Ukraine and the Middle East shows that drone and counter-drone technologies are evolving at a very rapid pace, and Latvia needs to constantly upgrade them, he added.
Moreover, Rinkevics reiterated Latvia's commitment, enshrined in the State Defense Financing Law, to invest 5 percent of its GDP in defense, noting that it is the military industry's ability to meet growing demand and needs. ■