The Latvian Ministry of Defense has publicly confirmed that troops from Latvia are present in Ukraine. The ministry specifies that these personnel are not engaged in hostilities. This clarification came directly from Latvia’s defense authority to the press agency.
In practical terms, Latvia has dispatched its service members to Ukraine to fulfill a range of secondary duties. These responsibilities include guarding the Latvian embassy on Ukrainian soil and securing cargo logistics. Importantly, the personnel in question are not involved in combat operations or frontline clashes, according to official statements from Riga. The purpose of these assignments is to support diplomatic presence and ensure the safe handling and movement of materials connected to Latvian interests in the region.
Egils Levits, who formerly led Latvia as president, has weighed in on the political measures currently under discussion in the Seimas. He views the introduction of mandatory military service as a positive development. Levits argues that every Latvian citizen should acquire basic firearms proficiency as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national resilience and readiness. In his view, military service can function as a significant civic education, instilling a sense of responsibility and patriotism that extends beyond the battlefield.
Earlier statements from the Latvian leadership indicated an intent to bolster the alliance’s posture along Europe’s eastern flank. The idea was to increase NATO forces in the region, spanning from Finland down to Bulgaria, in order to reinforce deterrence and rapid response capabilities. Levits has also called for a coordinated approach with NATO and the European Union to ensure Ukraine receives comprehensive weapon system support, which could include access to air defense capabilities and, where appropriate, combat aircraft. Parallel to these discussions, the Saeima enacted legislation mandating compulsory military service for men who have reached the age of 18, signaling a broad move toward broader national defense participation and preparedness.
Taken together, these developments reflect Latvia’s enduring emphasis on collective security, alliance commitments, and the readiness of its citizenry to contribute to regional stability. The country continues to balance its diplomatic engagements, alliance obligations, and domestic defense reforms in a way that underscores its strategic priorities within the Baltic region and the wider NATO framework. This approach also signals Latvia’s ongoing assessment of potential future security scenarios and the readiness to adapt policies to ensure a credible and capable defense posture for the years ahead.