The Latvian Parliament today approved the increase of the country’s defense expenses by up to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020, in order for the government of the small Baltic republic to meet the objectives set by the NATO and also in a move that reflects the growing concerns of Riga because of Russian policy.

The annexation of the Crimean peninsula in the Russian Federation and the support accused by the West that Moscow has to separatists in eastern Ukraine have caused great concern in the Baltic countries, which ruled from Moscow in Soviet times and gained their independence in 1991.

Approximately 26% of the 2,000,000 citizens of Latvia are Russians and 35% are Russian speakers. The linguistic, ethnic and cultural dimension of the key figures is the dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

“Considering the complicated geopolitical situation, the priority of this government is its security,” stated the Prime Minister of Latvia Ms Laimntota Straougiouma.

“The actions of Russia (in Ukraine) require all European countries to reconsider their attitude towards security, which our citizens have previously taken for granted,” added Ms Straougiouma.

Under the new law approved by parliament, Latvia will increase defense expenses to no less than 1% of GDP in the next year, a figure that will increase incrementally every year until 2020. This year Latvia will spend about 0.9% of its GDP on defense.

Many other members of the alliance, however, have failed to approach the target rate of defense expenses NATO has set and is 2% of GDP.

NATO seeks to reassure Latvia and other Eastern European countries belonging to the alliance by telling them that they are fully protected from any external attacks, but encourages them to spend more money for their defense.

Latvia and the neighboring Baltic countries, Estonia and Lithuania joined NATO and the European Union in 2004.