We should prepare for all scenarios in a rational manner without any sense of doom, as Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs wrote on Facebook, commenting on the recently surfaced talk of a possible attack by Russia on a NATO member state in the next three to ten years.
The president stresses that scenarios for NATO military drills have ended up in the public information space, as well as opinions and analyses of this topic. He admits that the situation is complicated in Europe and the rest of the world. This means predicting the possible development of the situation is difficult. According to the Latvian president, the ongoing war in Ukraine dictates much, and allows everyone the opportunity and time to prepare.
This is why the president says now is the time when it is critically important to provide support to Ukrainians and urge others to do the same.
Rinkēvičs mentions that during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riga last week, the two agreed on very specific political and practical steps towards supporting Ukraine this year.
The president explains that Latvia is a NATO an EU member state. Latvia and the region in general do not have better security guarantees. Rinkēvičs stresses that the responsibility for the state falls on our own shoulders. This means that Latvia has to be prepared to act first without doubting the country’s allies’ readiness to defend us so that it is possible to receive support when hour X arrives. He notes that the better Latvia prepares the lower the risk of Russia attacking.
The president also outlined future tasks to be completed – reinforcement of the eastern border against hybrid attacks by completing the fence and installing video surveillance and sensors. He also said it is necessary to form military infrastructure along the eastern border. The Ministry of Defence and National Armed Forces are working on specific measures in this area, said the president.
Among the tasks mentioned by Rinkēvičs, is also the further reinforcement of the security service by adopting a principle of voluntary service and lottery selection. According to him, it will be a test for the defence sector and society in general. The president said it is planned to secure reserves and further develop the National Guard and professional military service.
One other task mentioned by Rinkēvičs is the construction of military infrastructure, which includes Sēlijas base in order to ensure continued hosting of allies and the further meed Latvia’s needs. The president said it is necessary to develop Latvia’s military infrastructure. He said Latvia has signed multiple important supply contracts to enhance the country’s anti-air capabilities. Nevertheless, there are things Latvia should be able to manufacture on its own. There are technologies should be developed by Latvia on its own.
Rinkēvičs also mentioned it is necessary to reform the civil protection and crisis management system in accordance with Ukraine’s experience and crack down on crimes against national security more severely. The president concluded that there are certain changes continuing now. However, the president also believes the government should remember that “peace time” is over.
The president added that the election system should be further improved.
Rinkēvičs pointed out that lying and disinformation on social media were a big problem a while ago, now the use of artificial intelligence in an election campaign becomes a new challenge, so both legal and practical solutions are needed at the national and international level.
He also said he stands in favour of eventually terminating economic ties with aggressor countries. He stressed this cannot be done immediately, but the country has enough means to do it on a national level and promote the same sentiment in the region and Europe. The president said the work to develop various proposals has commenced in the Saeima and government. He hopes this work will result in specific steps.
Rinkēvičs says Baltic States’ disconnection from Russian and Belarusian power networks and connection with Europe’s power network next year is a no less important task. He said a significant increase of financing for the interior sector in the coming years should be self-explanatory.
The president stresses that in the diplomatic field Latvia continues active work with allies to reinforce the eastern flank, provide aid to Ukraine and “let go of illusions” concerning Russia.
He also said the mobilisation of Europe’s military industry is slowly continuing.
“This is one other critical matter that needs to be addressed. Although there periodical news about NATO’s defence planning, drills and estimates about a possible conflict cause worry, this also indicates Russia takes threats seriously and that many allies prepare for them. We also have to deter various hybrid attacks – the well-known ones are propaganda and the migration pressure on the eastern border. We have to understand that their manner will change and become more varied. This requires constant improvement of our authorities,” explains the president.
He concluded that the time we all live in is complicated. It is the duty of our generation to defend Latvia’s independence. He added that efforts continue to intimidate Latvia, incite disbelief and fear on our own and undermine trust in Latvia’s friends. The president believes this is part of a hybrid war.
LETA previously reported that Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas mentioned in an interview to Times that Russia may restore its military capabilities and create threats for NATO’s eastern flank in the next three to five years.
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