U.S. Defense Secretary Austin reaffirms support for Ukraine and allies in Riga

Record ID: 1684429

  • Title: U.S. Defense Secretary Austin reaffirms support for Ukraine and allies in Riga
  • Date: 10th August 2022
  • Summary: RIGA, LATVIA (AUGUST 10, 2022) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN ARRIVING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH LATVIAN PRESIDENT EGILS LEVITS AUSTIN POSING FOR PHOTO / LEVITS POSING FOR PHOTO VARIOUS OF AUSTIN AND LEVITS SHAKING HANDS WITH MEMBERS OF DELEGATIONS DELEGATION TAKING SEATS FOR TALKS VARIOUS OF AUSTIN AND U.S. DELEGATION
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2022 08:54
  • Keywords: Latvia Lloyd Austin Nato Riga Russia U.S. Defense Secretary Ukraine
  • Location: RIGA, LATVIA
  • City: RIGA, LATVIA
  • Country: Latvia
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001766310082022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S will keep working closely with NATO partners to support Ukraine and neighbouring countries, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday (August 10) in Riga.
    "International efforts to boost Ukraine's military capabilities continue to make a real difference on the battlefield, and that's been critical in helping Ukraine defend itself," Austin said during a meeting with Latvian prime minister Krisjanis Karins in Riga.
    He added the U.S. would enhance its presence in the region and "intensify our training with our Baltic allies."
    The U.S. announced increases in troop deployments across NATO's Europe both before and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
    Austin began his two-day visit to Latvia on Tuesday (August 9) with a visit to an air base at Lielvarde, where U.S. troops are stationed.
    NATO and European Union member Latvia plans to gradually raise its defence budget to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2025 from around 2% now, as it boosts security after its neighbour Russia sent troops into Ukraine in late February.
    (Production Janis Laizans, Hedy Beloucif)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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