On 14 October, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Commander of the National Armed Forces Lieutenant General Kaspars Pudāns at Riga Castle.
The meeting addressed support provided by the National Armed Forces and their cooperation with the State Border Guard, the State Police and state security institutions in countering irregular migration pressure and acts of sabotage along the Latvia–Belarus border.
“It is important for the defence sector and the interior services to work in close coordination to assess opportunities to improve effective deterrence along the country’s eastern border, including the objectives and further implementation of operation “Vilkatis””, emphasised E. Rinkēvičs.
The President and the Commander of the National Armed Forces also discussed the conclusions drawn following the comprehensive national defence exercise “Namejs 2026” on 8 October this year. Particular attention was paid to the readiness and capabilities of the armed forces, as well as the integration of national plans with NATO defence plans. Both officials emphasised the clear message from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe regarding the Alliance’s collective resolve and readiness to confront any potential aggressor, including in the context of the growing number of acts of sabotage and other hybrid activities across Europe.
President of Latvia welcomed the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision, adopted on 13 October, to increase the basic salaries of service personnel from 2027, thereby strengthening motivation among National Armed Forces personnel and enhancing the competitiveness of military service in the labour market.
