Europe should introduce conscription, President of Latvia says

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics urged European countries to introduce conscription and increase defense spending, stating that Europe is currently “quite weak.” In a Sky News interview, he emphasized the need for stronger European defense, mentioning Latvia's plan to spend 5% of its GDP on defense by 2028.

Latvia reintroduced conscription in 2023 and aimed for 4% of GDP on defense. He called the Baltic states a “litmus test of NATO” in the event of an attack. Rinkevics criticized Europe for relying too heavily on the US and acknowledged the need for increased military training, referencing Poland's initiative for all adult men. Concerns about a potential US-brokered Ukraine-Russia peace deal further exacerbate the situation.