Latvia: If Ukraine joins NATO, it will be the second strongest member in Europe

Ukrainian soldiers participate in a training exercise (Photo: Reuters).

Ukraine will have the second strongest army among NATO countries in continental Europe after joining the alliance, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said on October 1 at a discussion within the framework of the Warsaw Security Forum.

According to Ms. Braze, the Ukrainian army will have the combat experience and clear political commitment to become one of the best forces when admitted to the alliance.

"Ukraine will be the second strongest NATO member (in terms of military capabilities), at least in continental Europe," she said, adding that this position was only behind the US and Turkey.

Ukraine applied to join NATO in September 2022 but has yet to receive a formal invitation.

Although Ukraine has repeatedly expressed its desire to become part of the alliance, NATO has yet to take any concrete steps, remaining short of pledging that "Kiev's path to NATO membership is irreversible."

Since the conflict with Russia broke out, Ukraine has received extensive arms supplies and training from the West. This has increased the Ukrainian military's interoperability with NATO militaries.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said at the same event that his country "must be part of the transatlantic family" and that NATO needs Ukraine to "guarantee security" and "gain more competitive advantages".

Answering a question about what the West could do to help Kiev more, Sybiha cited the need to accept Ukraine's future membership in NATO and the EU.

Ukraine's top diplomat also called on the West to provide more weapons, including air defense systems, artillery shells and drones, and to help expand Ukraine's defense industry.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/latvia-neu-vao-nato-ukraine-se-la-thanh-vien-manh-thu-2-o-chau-au-20241002090310643.htm