VILNIUS, January 11. /TASS/. Latvia intends to spend approximately 2.4% of GDP on defense in 2024, the country's Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins said talking to the Politico newspaper.

"Latvia is investing "about 2.4% of our GDP into defense this year, and we're heading up to 3% in the next three years," he said.

In July 2023, the Latvian Foreign Minister announced plans to increase the level of defense spending to 3% of GDP, without waiting for 2027.

"We have had NATO General Secretaries coming from a handful of countries for many years. Maybe it’s time [for countries] such as Latvia - this year we are coming on 20 years as a NATO member. We are certainly not a new member," he noted.

As the publication explained, Karins is one of the contenders to become NATO’s next secretary-general. Among the representatives of the Baltic countries, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is also vying for the post of NATO Secretary General.