The World Federation of Free Latvians Letter to NATO Leaders

June 24, 2022

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr.
President of the United States

The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada

The Honorable Boris Johnson
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Honorable Jens Stoltenberg
Secretary General of NATO

Dear Sirs,

The upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid will be one of the most consequential in decades, with the purpose and resilience of the alliance being tested as never before.   With Russia having again proven its intent to be an aggressor state as well as committing war crimes in Ukraine, the world needs clear and strong actions from Western democracies coming out of Madrid.

As the umbrella organization for the hundreds of thousands of Latvians living in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America, the World Federation of Free Latvians (Pasaules Brīvo Latviešu Apvienība), condemns Putin’s actions and encourages a strong NATO response in Madrid.

Latvians living in NATO countries outside of Latvia are concerned about  the Baltic region and what Russia’s actions foreshadow for European security.  The Baltic countries are sterling examples of how freedom can foster successful market economies, enduring democratic institutions and committed NATO allies.

We encourage NATO in its meeting in Madrid to adopt the following policies:

• Strengthen the alliance’s defensive posture by committing increased NATO troop deployments in the Baltic countries, ensuring that a brigade-level NATO unit is positioned in Latvia at all times.
• Admit Finland and Sweden to NATO. This will fortify the security of the northern Baltic Sea region and protect the peaceful people living in those countries by integrating their defense capabilities with NATO.
• Recognize Latvia’s support of Ukraine by having NATO replace the weapons systems, such as Stinger surface-to-air missiles, that Latvia provided for the defense of Ukraine.

NATO’s needed role as a strong, defensive alliance is made clearer with renewed Russian threats and actual aggression.   The leaders of Western countries should stand firm for freedom, peace, and prosperity.

Respectfully,

Peteris Blumbergs,
President
The World Federation of Free Latvians