European countries should ‘absolutely’ introduce conscription says Latvian president

Latvia introduced conscription in 2023

Edgars Rinkevics told Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that European countries should increase spending amid the 'ups and downs' in relations with the US.

Latvia pushed defence spending to 4 per cent of the country's GDP and introduced conscription for men in 2023.

Rinkevics said: "Seeing what is happening in the world, the decision that we took - many other European countries need to follow that.

"A lot of people are a little bit nervous. People are following the news. Of course strong reassurances [are] one thing, but another thing is other European governments [have] to make sure that we all get stronger."

He added that he believes both Europe and the US 'understand the risks and the threats' of the future of NATO.

Rinkevics also called Latvia and fellow Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania the 'litmus test of NATO' and urged an increase in the 'overall presence' of NATO on their borders with Russia amid increase risks.

The three Baltic countries - located on NATO's eastern flank with Russia - are among the highest defence spenders in NATO as a percentage of GDP.

They are also, relative to their size, among the biggest supporters of Ukraine and have been the strongest voices in Europe raising the alarm about the threat posed by President Vladimir Putin for years.