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Latvia Seeks €7 Billion From EU to Cover Costs of Breaking With Russia. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is seeking an additional €7 billion from the European Union to help cover the economic and security costs of breaking ties with Russia, according to Politico. The money would be included in the EU’s next seven-year budget through the proposed Competitiveness Fund, on top of Latvia’s existing funding allocations. Kulbergs argues that Latvia is facing particularly high costs because of its position on the EU’s eastern border and its decision to sharply increase defence spending. Latvia is expected to spend €15.1 billion on defence over the seven-year budget period, with military expenditure reaching 5% of GDP from 2027. The prime minister also says the country has suffered economically from the collapse of trade with Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and the EU sanctions regime. Kulbergs argues that Latvia is effectively helping finance the security of the wider European Union, while much of its defence spending returns to arms manufacturers in other member states. The proposal comes ahead of Latvia’s October 3 parliamentary election, adding a domestic political dimension to Riga’s push for greater EU financial support. If accepted, the request would make Latvia one of the clearest examples of an eastern EU member seeking direct compensation for the economic and military burden of confronting Russia.
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