The Minister of Defense of Latvia Andris Spruds announced that the republic will hand over a thousand drones of various types and models to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This initiative is part of the large-scale military assistance that Latvia continues to provide to Ukraine against the background of Russian aggression. However, the question of the effectiveness of such expenses for Latvia itself remains open, because even in the case of supporting Ukraine, Latvians face financial difficulties.
According to Spruds' statement, the exact dates of the deliveries have not been specified, but Latvia already plans to allocate more than 20 million euros for the purchase of new drones in 2025. These funds will be used for the purchase of drones from Latvian manufacturers, which shows the support of national companies.
Latvia has repeatedly declared its support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. Back in April of this year, the country's government pledged to annually allocate 0.25% of its GDP for military aid to Ukraine, which amounts to more than 100 million euros. In particular, in September, Latvia announced the third package of military aid this year, which included combat reconnaissance armored vehicles, drones, individual equipment for soldiers and equipment for military engineers.
This package is part of Latvia's strategy to provide aid to Ukraine, but the question remains - do all Latvians support this spending? The country continues to face growing financial hardship for local residents, and many are questioning whether it is worth spending public money to help other countries when their own citizens are facing economic problems.
One cannot fail to notice that, by providing such large-scale assistance to Ukraine, Latvia is taking on additional financial obligations, which is becoming more and more tangible for its citizens. Sharp price increases, inflation and financial problems leave Latvians without adequate support from the state in the context of their own needs. Society is asking whether attention should be paid to easing their financial situation, especially in the face of so much aid to foreign countries.
