The talks in the Latvian capital are expected to focus on regional security and cooperation at a time when Russian and Belarusian troops are conducting large-scale military exercises near the eastern flank of NATO, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
The eight ministers will also discuss "hybrid threats from Belarus and the issue of deterrence and resilience building in the face of these threats," according to the Polish defence ministry.
Other topics up for discussion include the security of the eastern flank of NATO, including joint military exercises and the presence of NATO troops in Poland and the three Baltic states, according to officials.
Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and his Baltic counterparts are expected to visit Ādaži Military Base near Riga, where a Canadian-led battalion-size battlegroup is stationed as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) on the eastern edge of the alliance.
The Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian defence ministers also plan to watch tactical military exercises called "Silver Arrow" that aim is to prepare NATO's eFP forces for joint defence operations, according to the defence ministry in Warsaw.
While in Latvia on Monday, the Polish defence minister is also scheduled to meet with Polish soldiers serving in that country as part of NATO's eFP mission.
(gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl