The numerical strength of Latvia’s armed forces must reach 31 000 in the coming years, President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated during a press conference on Wednesday, the 5th of March, following a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV).
The president explained that the Commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS) had outlined in the government and the National Security Council the required number of personnel for the near future. This includes professional service members, the National Guard, the State Defense Service, and reserve troops, Rinkēvičs noted.
“Currently, we have approximately 20 000 soldiers, and in the coming years, we need to reach 31 000—perhaps even moving towards a near doubling, reaching around 38 000 in the long term,” the president stated. He emphasized that the immediate goal is to reach 31 000, and further increases may be considered as defense capabilities develop.
At the same time, he stressed that this decision would be made based on proposals from NBS commanders and the Minister of Defense, which would be presented to the government and the Saeima.
According to information on the NBS website, the current composition of the armed forces includes 7 870 professional service members, 10 000 National Guard troops, and 38 000 reserve soldiers—among them, those who served in compulsory military service before December 2006.
The 2023 State Defense Concept states that in wartime, the NBS should have a total strength of 61 000 personnel, consisting of a 31 000-strong peacetime structure and 30 000 general reserve troops.
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