Latvia has been acting to strengthen its own security since the beginning of the conflict of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, including the resumption of a military appeal.
This is the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevsvs in an interview with “present” – a Russian -speaking television channel with the editors in Prague.
The Head of State noted that in 2024 Latvia will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the entry into NATO and the European Union.
“Why are we in NATO? Because from the first days, weeks, months after the restoration of independence, we realized that sooner or later we could face a similar situation, and the idea of a possible threat from Russia in our mental perception was always” – said the president.
Rinkevich noted that the Latvian Ministry of Defense since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine purchased a whole list of armament names and signed new contracts for the supply of air defense weapons.
“The problem, of course, is that while the process is going on, the signing of contracts, while these systems begin to work, will pass more than one day and not one week. What does not interfere with the preparation of the staff,” the president explained.
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Also, according to the head of state, Latvia resumed a military draft, and gradually the service will become mandatory.
“The process of preparing reservists has begun. I myself have already talked with young people from the first call, and we understand that only on a voluntary basis this state protection service cannot exist. Gradually, the service will become mandatory, and young people will serve as a lottery. “,- the politician explained.
Latvian authorities make active efforts to strengthen the eastern borders of the country, he noted. “We know about the problems that we had with Belarus, we see that at least we can cope with the hybrid threat. The fence on the border in this helps. This year we need to complete the construction of the fence on the border with Russia. Well, on the international It is important to fulfill the decisions of the Madrid and Vilnius summit of NATO are the additional forces of the military countries of the Allies, ”the president said.
Rinkevich recalled the decision of the Prime Minister of Sweden to send additional forces to Latvia at the level of the battalion.
“I hope that by this moment Sweden will already become a member of NATO. But we still need to do a lot – to prepare the infrastructure,” the president added.