Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the conflict in Ukraine has made the Russian military stronger rather than weaker.

He noted that Russian forces have gained real combat experience and shown an ability to adapt to modern warfare. In his view, NATO allies need to take that into account.

Rinkevics said that, whether Western countries like it or not, Russia now has an army with battlefield experience that has demonstrated considerable flexibility and an ability to adjust to changing combat conditions.

The Latvian president also said a new contingent of U.S. troops is being deployed to Lithuania. He thanked U. S. President Donald Trump for the decision, stressing that the move is important for the security of the entire region.

According to Rinkevics, the presence of American forces in Lithuania remains a key element of collective defense and deterrence.

Earlier, he had also pointed to weaknesses in Europe’s air defense capabilities, warning that European countries and NATO may not be fully prepared to repel missile strikes.

Rinkevics has also highlighted the rapid development of unmanned aviation, saying European countries are falling behind the pace of drone technology advances seen in the conflict in Ukraine.