DISINFO: Latvia spends 6.4% of GDP on defence
SUMMARY
While Latvia is desperately trying to get through economic and social stagnation, the Latvian Defense Ministry is intensively increasing military expenditure to please NATO. In addition, these assets are being constantly squandered by the Latvian political and military leadership. … “We [Latvia] have a negative trade balance. We [Latvia] alone are not able to maintain our defense capabilities, although we [Latvia] are spending 6.4% of the GDP to satisfy military needs.”
RESPONSE
According to the information published on the official website of the Latvian Defense Ministry, 1.7% of GDP were spent on military needs in 2017, and 2% of the GDP are to be spent this year (http://www.mod.gov.lv/Par_aizsardzibas_nozari/Politikas_planosana/Vald_priorit.aspx). According to the Defense Ministry, the Latvian Parliament for the first time in history in 2018 approved the defense budget in the amount of 2% of the GDP. Now Latvia has become one of the few NATO member states spending the promised 2% of GDP on defense (http://www.mod.gov.lv/Aktualitates/Preses_pazinojumi/2017/11/23-01.aspx). For more information see the chart here: http://www.mod.gov.lv/~/media/NBS/plakati%20utt/2017/AM_infografika_2017_lv.ashx The person referred to as a source in the article often appears in pro-Kremlin media.