Latvia’s defense minister wants to bring back conscription so his country can defend itself should Russia launch an attack so sudden that NATO cannot help prevent it. Latvia — a NATO and EU member state bordering Russia — ended conscription in 2007. But earlier this month, Defense Secretary Artis Pabriks announced plans to reintroduce the service for 18- to 27-year-olds following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying it was a necessary step for the country to “survive”. Latvia’s president said he also supported the move. In an interview with Insider this week, Pabriks, who is also Latvia’s deputy prime minister, said more citizens need military training because the country expects an attack from Russia. He said Latvian intelligence suggested a Russian attack could come with little warning, meaning NATO defenses might not be ready to stop it. A map showing the border between Latvia and Russia. Google Maps/Insider “Even if we are a NATO member country, our first challenge and danger comes from a very quick attack from Russia,” Pabriks said. “We calculated of course how many forces Russia can gather on our border within 24 or 48 hours. And knowing that NATO will need some time to think about this, we must be ready to defend every inch and every centimeter of ground.” NATO’s charter says an attack on one member state is treated as an attack on all, meaning other nations will defend Latvia. But Pabriks said Latvia — which was occupied by the Soviets before declaring independence in 1990 — must significantly strengthen its own defenses as a Russian attack is so likely. “We are ready to do everything not to repeat our bitter historical lessons since we were occupied by the Soviet Union,” he said. “We cannot afford to look weak. We must be strong. We are not afraid and we are just alert, ready, because we are no longer going to live under this foreign rule and this occupation like our ancestors.” Latvian Defense Minister Artis Factories visits England in February 2022. Alberto Pezzali/Associated Press
Service from next year
The introduction of compulsory military service still needs approval from the country’s parliament and new legislation. Pabriks expects that to pass and said it could happen this year – meaning the first 500 people could enter the service in January 2023. These first people would volunteer as part of the first phase of the plan, and eventually all Latvian men aged 18 to 27 would have to do 11 months of service. The 11 months would consist of three months of basic training, three months of a specialist course and five months of “unit and collective training”. They will also receive a monthly salary “up to 400 euros, free food and accommodation in barracks,” the defense ministry said. Pabriks said he also believes the plan is popular with most of the population. NATO troops gather during military exercises at the Adazi military base in Kadaga, Latvia, Tuesday, March. 8, 2022 AP Photo/Roman Koksarov
Expecting an attack
Pabriks said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proved the need to restore compulsory military service in Latvia. He said Latvia believes that regardless of whether Russia wins or loses in Ukraine, “Russia will remain an unreliable neighbor with imperial ambitions for the next decade.” Ukraine, like Latvia, was previously occupied by the Soviet Union, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine is rightfully part of Russia as a justification for invasion. “This means that Ukraine is giving us time to prepare,” Pabriks said. “While the Ukrainians are fighting, I’m sorry to say, we have an opportunity as Latvians and as Europeans to prepare.” People are seen digging graves in Bucha, Ukraine, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Pabriks said the service would also bolster Latvia’s military so it could counter a Russian attack, but also act as a deterrent to Russia’s plans. “The Russians are not crazy. They will see that we are ready to defend ourselves,” he said. “And secondly, if disaster strikes, then we would have enough forces to defend our liberties.” As for what kind of attack Russia could make, Pabriks said “anything could happen, because this imperial country never gave up those ambitions.” Latvian President Egils Levits speaks to Latvian troops during his visit to the Adazi military base in Kadaga, Latvia, March 8, 2022. AP Photo/Roman Koksarov Russia has so far taken ambiguous actions against the Baltic countries, one of which is Latvia. In April, Russia said it would deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic region, and Estonia said Russia was simulating missile attacks against it. Latvia’s neighbors have also stepped up their defenses against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO, Finland plans to build dams along its Russian border, and Estonia and Lithuania have increased military training. Pabriks said that when his country brings back the military, he can’t see it ending up like it did 15 years ago. “The Rubicon is being crossed,” he said. “We won’t drop it again.”
