MOSCOW, August 19 (RIA Novosti) - Latvian manufacturers affected by Russian food import sanctions might be able to sell their products to the US Army in Europe, Latvian Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss told journalists Tuesday.
“The possibility to provide US troops in Europe with food commodities will not only contribute to the diversification of the target market for Latvian producers, but also increase Latvia’s contribution to strengthen European security structures and strategic cooperation with the United States,” he said.
Latvia now provides US and NATO deployments in Afghanistan with foodstuffs. Matiss said that he had asked US commanders to consider the possibility of having Latvia provide their troops in Europe with food as well.
According to US Defense Department data, there were 83,011 US military personnel in Europe as of June 2014.
On August 7, Russia limited imports of most agricultural products from the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway in response to the sanctions imposed on the country following the Ukrainian crisis.