latviski
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Saturday, September 6 – Friday, September 12, 2025
International Security & Geopolitics
This week, the Baltic region, particularly Latvia, has been focused on heightened security concerns and strategic military planning. Latvia is actively considering a temporary complete closure of its border with Russia and Belarus during military exercises scheduled from September 12 to 16. This proposal, put forth by the National Alliance party, garnered support from most deputies, though it also sparked debates regarding potential economic repercussions and the actual immediacy of the threats. The National Alliance emphasized the urgency of this measure by referencing a recent Russian drone attack on Poland, launched from Belarus, which they view as a clear demonstration of risks to NATO and the Baltic states. Already, in a direct response to an assessment of events in Poland, which involved a violation of NATO airspace, Latvia has closed its airspace in the eastern border region from September 11 to 18. These actions are part of a broader regional response, as Poland also imposed airspace restrictions near its borders with Russia and Belarus, effective until December 9, after NATO fighter jets shot down Russian drones that had crossed into Polish territory. Similarly, Lithuania had established no-fly zone measures from mid-August to early October. The Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace is particularly significant as it marked the first instance of direct engagement between NATO and Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting NATO to launch Operation "Eastern Sentinel". Further reflecting these concerns, Latvia's National Alliance party has submitted a bill to parliament calling for the immediate closure of Latvia's border with Russia and Belarus, which has been forwarded to the national security commission for review.
In terms of military readiness, Latvia is proactively preparing to introduce mandatory military conscription for women by 2028, following the precedent set by Denmark. Defense Minister Andris Spruds intends to submit a formal proposal next year, with initial preparations already underway to integrate female-specific equipment within the National Armed Forces. This initiative forms a key part of Latvia's broader strategy to almost double its military size to 31,000 troops by 2028, a significant increase from 15,000 in 2021, driven by what officials describe as an ongoing Russian threat.
On the international support front, Latvia has approved the allocation of 5 million euros to Ukraine for 2025. These funds, channeled through the NATO and US PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List) initiative, are earmarked for the purchase of American weapons and equipment aimed at bolstering Ukraine's security and defense capabilities. Both Latvia's Defense and Foreign Ministers underscored the critical role of this support in strengthening Ukraine's defense, protecting its sovereignty, and reinforcing collective European security. Additionally, Latvia continues to play a leading role in the Drone Coalition, co-chairing it with the United Kingdom, an initiative that Croatia also plans to join.
However, a pressing concern for the Baltic states has arisen as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are jointly petitioning the US Congress to preserve the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI). The Pentagon reportedly plans to eliminate funding for this program, which has provided around $220 million in security assistance to the Baltic nations since 2020. While US congressional members are expressing opposition to these proposed cuts, potentially setting the stage for a legislative standoff, a senior Trump administration official has suggested that Europe should be capable of funding such security programs independently given its wealth.
Diplomacy & International Partnerships
In the realm of international relations, several key bilateral and multilateral engagements have taken place this week. Azerbaijan and Latvia conducted their fourth session of strategic dialogue on September 9, during which they engaged in comprehensive discussions covering bilateral relations across political, economic, and humanitarian spheres, alongside strategies for strengthening partnerships within various international organizations. During these talks, the Latvian delegation also received updates on the post-conflict realities in Azerbaijan, including demining efforts and the ongoing normalization process with Armenia.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan's analytical platform, Baku Network, has expanded its international reach by signing strategic partnership memorandums with two significant entities: the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future and Biedriba Astraea, a transnational organization that operates in Latvia and the United States. These agreements are designed to establish a sustainable multilateral platform for joint research and analytical cooperation, aiming to position Baku Network as an "analytical hub" that connects East and West. Biedriba Astraea, in particular, focuses on journalistic research, ensuring information objectivity, and monitoring socio-political processes to foster transparency and strengthen democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, Latvia's Foreign Minister, Baiba Braže, hosted her Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, on September 8. Minister Braže extended gratitude to Croatia for its significant contribution to NATO's presence in the Baltic region, specifically acknowledging the Croatian contingent serving in Lithuania. The ministers explored avenues for expanding economic cooperation, identifying key sectors such as ICT, high-tech and drone technologies, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, artificial intelligence, and tourism. This diplomatic exchange highlighted a positive trend, with trade between Latvia and Croatia experiencing a notable 42% increase last year compared to 2023, reaching a total foreign trade turnover of 75.4 million euros. Additionally, Croatia confirmed its intention to join the Drone Coalition, an initiative that Latvia co-leads with the United Kingdom.
Sports Updates
For sports enthusiasts, it’s been a dynamic week across various disciplines. In basketball, the Latvian national team has successfully advanced to the knockout bracket of EuroBasket 2025, with their star player, Kristaps Porzingis, playing a pivotal role. Porzingis has demonstrated strong performance, averaging 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game throughout the group stage. France also secured its place in the knockout rounds, while, unfortunately, the Czech national team, including Vit Krejci, was eliminated after failing to win any of their five group-stage games.
Futsal is also making headlines, with Indonesia set to host the AQUA Four Nations Cup 2025 from September 18-21. This tournament will feature a diverse lineup of teams, including Latvia, the Netherlands, Tanzania, and the host nation, Indonesia. The Indonesian Futsal Federation (FFI) specifically invited these nations, with Latvia ranked 60th globally, to expose their national team to a wider array of playing patterns beyond Asia, particularly noting the robust style of European teams like the Netherlands.
In football, Albania beat Latvia 1-0 on September 9 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier thanks to a penalty from Kristjan Asllani. The match was held at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana. Albania's win was crucial for their qualification hopes and occurred despite a FIFA-imposed penalty that reduced the stadium's capacity, leading to a a subdued atmosphere.
Finally, we have some somber news to report. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Warrant Officer George Hohl, was found dead in Latvia on Friday, September 7, after having been reported missing earlier in the week. Warrant Officer Hohl, a vehicle technician with almost two decades of service, was deployed to Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance under NATO's Multinational Brigade-Latvia. An investigation into the circumstances of his death is currently underway, being conducted by the Canadian Forces Military Police in cooperation with Latvian authorities. At this time, there is no indication that the incident poses an increased threat to the safety and security of other deployed Canadian personnel. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his profound sadness upon learning of Warrant Officer Hohl's passing, noting that he had recently had the honor of spending time with the brigade.
Citās ziņās
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