The President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs has nominated Brigadier General Kaspars Pudāns as the new commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS).
According to the LETA news agency, the Chancellery of the President of Latvia, on the basis of the Law on the National Armed Forces, the President has sent a proposal to the Saeima on the confirmation of Pudāns as the commander of the National Armed Forces.
“Having assessed the professional experience, education and qualifications of General Pudāns, as well as the skills and cooperation ability demonstrated by him as the commander of the National Guard, I consider him suitable for the post of the commander of the National Armed Forces,” the President of Latvia emphasised.
He points out that he expects the next NBS Commander to take clear and effective action to strengthen national defence.
“To achieve this, it is important to improve our deterrence and defence capabilities on the ground, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace, motivating every soldier, encouraging the population, developing technology and working side by side with NATO allies,” Rinkēvičs said.
LETA previously reported that according to the procedure, Defence Minister Andris Sprūds recommended four potential candidates to the President, with two remaining in the final round.
Latvian Television’s “de facto” programme earlier reported that Pudāns and Brigadier General Georgs Kerlins, Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were being considered for the post.
The current NBS commander, Leonīds Kalniņš, is due to leave office in January 2025. The NBS Commander is appointed for four years and dismissed by the Saeima on the proposal of the President.