On 5 September, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs visited Cesvaine where National Guard Brigade 2 Vidzeme is based to inspect the roll out and coordination of “Namejs 2026” comprehensive national defence exercise.
President observed training from tactical command centre of National Guard Infantry Battalion 26. Lt Gen Kaspars Pudāns, Chief of the Defence Staff, Brig Gen Aivars Krjukovs, Commander of the National Guard, and Col Igors Harlapenkovs, Commander of National Guard Brigade 2 Vidzeme briefed President Rinkēvičs about progress of military exercise and enhanced interoperability goals for National Armed Force units, allied forces and civilian sector. Key topics discussed during the visit included integration of Ukrainian experience into military training, anti-drone defence capabilities and their deployment on eastern border of Latvia alongside the construction of counter-mobility infrastructure for the Baltic Defence Line.
"We need to keep upgrading civilian-military cooperation as it continues to take shape. Consistent annual military training is crucial but, for achieving stronger crisis preparedness and response, it is also important to engage local government, defence, interior and civilian sector stakeholders in regular exercise," Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined.
For your information:
“Namejs 2026” comprehensive national defence training is rolled out under the command of National Armed Forces from 2nd to 8th of September. Training targets around 12,000 army and National Guard troops. Annual military exercise “Namejs” started in 2014.
