Defense
Defense
Update 7:35
The Baltic States and Poland will jointly strengthen the defense of the external borders and airspace of the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, representatives of the four countries' Defense Ministries pledged at a meeting in Daugavpils, Latvia, September 27.
By flying its aircraft over the Baltic Sea, Russia wants to show NATO its supposed strength and that it continues to maintain its presence in the region, Colonel Viesturs Masulis, the commander of the Air Force of the Latvian National Armed Forces, said in an interview with Latvian Radio September 22.
The Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Justice will prepare changes to the regulation allowing the continuation of service while receiving a pension for interior service officers and soldiers who have reached retirement age, LETA reported September 19.
During the National Defense Exercise "Namejs 2024", from Friday, September 20, to September 21, the Riga Municipality Civil Protection and Operational Information Directorate (CAOIP) will conduct a practical evacuation and accommodation process.
From December 3 to 5, the first cyber security innovation forum in the Baltic States dubbed "CyberBazaar 2024" will be held in Rīga, organized by the Latvian National Cyber Security Center in cooperation with Estonian and Lithuanian colleagues.
NATO patrol aircraft in Latvia take off every day to identify various possible airspace violations, and the recent case when fighter jets were scrambled from Lielvārde military base because of a flock of birds has shown the public that such cases are frequent, Commander of the National Armed Forces Leonīds Kalniņš told Latvian Television September 19.
A Latvian citizen may have been detained in Belarus after going there by car, LETA newswire reported on September 17.
On Tuesday morning, September 17, at around 9 a.m., the National Armed Forces (NBS) Air Force detected an unidentified flying object near the Latvian border, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. However, subsequent information proved to be considerably less sensational – except to ornithologists.
The early warning system or cell broadcasting system will not be implemented this year, as previously planned, because of a delay in the public procurement, Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) told Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" program September 17.
From Wednesday, September 18 to Sunday, September 22, the active phase of the comprehensive national defense training "Namejs" will also take place in the capital city Rīga, Latvian Radio reports Monday.
Four out of six towers for border surveillance have been installed in the Daugava river section near the Latvian-Belarusian border, "Valsts nekustamie īpašumi" (State Real Estate, VNĪ) said on September 13.
The National Armed Forces (NBS) Colonel Māris Tūtins, Chief of the Information Analysis and Management Department of the NAF Joint Staff, told Latvian Radio's "Labrīt" program on September 13 that the NBS is "learning" how to communicate better from the incident of the Russian drone falling in the territory of Latvia.
The State Defense Service July 2025 conscription will be open for voluntary applications until November 20 this year, with a total of 830 persons planned to be conscripted, the Ministry of Defense said on September 12.
Latvian citizens aged 18-27 are invited to volunteer for the defense service by November 20, 2024, through the unified recruitment platform www.klustikaravirs.lv, according to an amended order issued by Defense Minister Andris Sprūds.
Latvian citizens aged 18-27 are invited to volunteer for the defense service by November 20, 2024, through the unified recruitment platform www.klustikaravirs.lv, according to an amended order issued by Defense Minister Andris Sprūds.
On Wednesday, September 11, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds met with the Deputy Commander of the Allied High Command in Europe, Admiral Sir Keith Blount of the United Kingdom, and the Commander of the NATO Air Force Command, General James B. Hecker of the United States, both of whom are in Latvia on a working visit.
Following an incident involving a Russian combat drone that flew into Latvian territory, the National Security Council has decided to update and improve the procedures for more effective action in the event of a security threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, Latvian Radio reports September 10.
The investigation into the Russian "Shahed" drone that flew into Latvian airspace and was found in the Rēzekne municipality will also assess whether the National Armed Forces followed procedures appropriate to the situation, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds (Progressives) said on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" program September 10.
The Cabinet of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, September 10, decided to extend the enhanced border security regime at the Latvian-Belarusian border.
The Russian drone that fell in the Rēzekne region on Saturday, September 7, was a "Shahed" type drone equipped with explosives, representatives of the National Armed Forces (NBS) said at a press conference Monday, September 9.
On Saturday, September 7, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) crashed in the Rēzekne municipality, representatives of the Military Public Relations Department of the Latvian Ministry of Defense said.
The full statement issued by the Latvian Ministry of Defense about the incursion of a Russian drone into Latvian airspace is reproduced below. The statement was issued on the afternoon of September 8, 2024,
On Friday, September 6, while participating in the meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds said that at the beginning of 2025, Latvia will organize an international drone summit.
To strengthen cybersecurity in Latvia and implement the revised European Union Network and Information Systems Directive requirements, the National Cybersecurity Law, developed by the Ministry of Defense, came into effect on September 1, reports Labs of Latvia.
The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) has been inspecting the basements of state and municipal buildings to determine whether they meet bomb shelter requirements. Civil protection experts have concluded that funding should be sought in next year's budget to improve the facilities, Latgale regional television reported September 5.
The Latvian Ministry of Defense is inviting think tanks to submit applications for participation in a competition "to promote research and public awareness on defense issues" the ministry said in a release September 4.
Latvian residents can expect to see the miltary on the move from Tuesday with the major annual 'Namejs' training drills taking place.
So far, thanks to public donations, the "Ziedot.lv" charity organization has sent several thousand demining kits to Ukraine. They are very necessary right now – each neutralized mine saves a child, civilian or soldier from death or horrific injury.
Attempts to disrupt the operation of Latvian websites have not disappeared, and last week there was another wave of attacks, but mostly they only succeeded in slowing down the operation of various pages, not stopping them completely.
The upgrades continue at Ādaži military base near Rīga with the opening August 28 of a new tank and heavy equipment depot.
From September 2 to 6, an international military exercise with the entertaining title "Furious Wolf 24" will take place in Sigulda region, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) has announced.
From Wednesday, August 28 to Thursday, August 29, Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds is visiting London, the United Kingdom, on a working visit.
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