Andris Spruds visited by Yuriko Backes. The situation in Ukraine discussed.
This Friday, Luxembourg Defense Minister Yuriko Backes received Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds for a working visit in Luxembourg. At the Bourglinster Castle, after being welcomed by a guard of honor from the Luxembourg Army, a bilateral working meeting took place. The ministers expressed satisfaction with the good cooperation in the defense sector. For years, the Luxembourg Defense has provided financial support for military infrastructure projects in Latvia, including the construction of barracks at the Adazi military base, which houses the NATO Forward Land Forces Multinational Brigade.
In preparation for the NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026, the visit also provided an opportunity to discuss NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, especially on its eastern flank, and the Alliance’s political priorities.
The meeting also addressed the evolving geopolitical situation marked by instability, particularly the security situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. In this context, the ministers discussed the military support provided to Ukraine by Luxembourg, Allies, the EU, and NATO, as well as the progress of the capacity coalitions established within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. This includes the “IT” coalition, coordinated by Estonia and Luxembourg, and the “drones” coalition, coordinated by Latvia and to which Luxembourg contributed 3.4 million euros.
A visit to Betzdorf at the European Satellite Company (SES) and LuxGovSat was also scheduled. In the afternoon, Ministers Spruds and Backes participated in the 208th swearing-in ceremony for recruits at Walferdange Castle.
