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| Military of Latvia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Latvian National Armed Forces |
| Native name | Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki |
| Founded | 1918, re-established 1991 |
| Headquarters | Riga |
| Commander in chief | Edgars Rinkēvičs |
| Defense minister | Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica |
| Chief of defence | Leonīds Kalniņš |
| Manpower age | 18–27 |
| Active | 6,500 (approx.) |
| Reserves | 45,000 (approx.) |
| Percent GDP | 2.5% (varies) |
Military of Latvia is the collective term for the national defense forces responsible for safeguarding Latvia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and participation in collective defense. Rooted in the 1918 proclamation of independence and reconstitution after 1991, the forces operate under the authority of the President of Latvia and the Ministry of Defence (Latvia), engaging in national defense, civil support, and international missions. The armed forces maintain commitments to North Atlantic Treaty Organization and regional security frameworks while modernizing equipment and doctrine.
Latvia declared independence in 1918 leading to the creation of initial defense formations that fought in the Latvian War of Independence against the Bolsheviks, German Landeswehr, and Bermontians. The interwar Republic of Latvia (1918–1940) established a standing army and navy, influenced by treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles and interactions with League of Nations security ideas. The 1940 Soviet occupation and subsequent German occupation during World War II dissolved independent institutions; many Latvians joined formations such as the Latvian Legion and later anti-Soviet groups like the Forest Brothers. After the restoration of independence in 1991, Latvia reconstituted its national defense, pursued membership in Partnership for Peace and achieved accession to NATO and the European Union in 2004, participating in operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and NATO's enhanced forward presence in Baltic region contingents.
Command authority rests with the President of Latvia as commander-in-chief, exercised through the Ministry of Defence (Latvia) and the Chief of Defence (Latvia), coordinating with the Saeima for statutory decisions. The structure comprises the professional Latvian National Armed Forces headquarters, regional commands, and joint service elements modeled on NATO interoperability standards. Key institutions include the National Defence Academy of Latvia, the Defence Intelligence and Security Service, and the State Defence Service agencies, integrating civil protection bodies like State Fire and Rescue Service (Latvia) in peacetime resilience planning.
Primary components include the Latvian Land Forces, the National Guard (Zemessardze), the Latvian Naval Forces, and the Latvian Air Force. The Land Forces field mechanized infantry battalions, reconnaissance units, and engineer companies structured into brigades and battlegroups interoperable with NATO Allied Command Operations. The National Guard is a large reserve militia organized into regional brigades supporting territorial defense and crisis response. Naval assets operate from bases in Riga and Liepāja, conducting coastal patrol, mine countermeasure tasks, and participation in Standing NATO Maritime Groups. The Air Force maintains air policing, transport, and training units cooperating with NATO Baltic Air Policing missions flown from Šiauliai Air Base and allied rotations.
Latvia maintains a professional core supplemented by conscription frameworks historically used in the interwar period and reintroduced in variations post-2015 debates. Current service combines voluntary enlistment, professional contracts, and reserve mobilization rooted in the Law on National Defense and related legislation passed by the Saeima. The National Guard emphasizes citizen-soldier participation drawing recruits from municipalities such as Daugavpils, Jelgava, and Ventspils. Officers receive training at the National Defence Academy of Latvia and through exchange programs with military academies in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden.
Capabilities focus on territorial defense, deterrence, and expeditionary contributions. Land forces operate armored personnel carriers, light artillery, and anti-air systems procured from suppliers including Lithuania and NATO partners such as United States Armed Forces, Germany, and Poland. Naval forces deploy patrol vessels, minehunters, and offshore patrol craft augmented by acquisitions coordinated with NATO Force Structure priorities. Air capabilities prioritize airspace surveillance, rotary-wing transport, and liaison aircraft while relying on allied air policing for fighter rotations from NATO Allies like France, Germany, and United Kingdom. Modernization programs emphasize communications, cyber defense units linked to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, and integration of unmanned aerial systems sourced from European and Israeli defense industries.
Latvian defense policy centers on collective defense under NATO Article 5 commitments, regional security cooperation through the Baltic States trilateral initiatives, and participation in EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions. Bilateral defense agreements with United States Department of Defense, Finland, and Estonia support joint exercises, pre-positioning, and training such as the annual Saber Strike and Steadfast Jazz exercises. Latvia hosts elements of NATO's enhanced forward presence and contributes to multinational battlegroups alongside Canada, Germany, and Spain. Engagement extends to partnerships with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and participation in UN peacekeeping frameworks.
Defense spending trends have risen toward NATO's 2% GDP guideline, allocating funds through the Ministry of Finance (Latvia) and procurement overseen by the Procurement Monitoring Bureau (Latvia). Major procurements have included armored vehicles, air defense systems, and maritime platforms purchased via competitive bids with vendors from United States, France, Sweden, and Poland. Transparency and anti-corruption oversight involve coordination with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and parliamentary defense committees in the Saeima. Future procurement priorities emphasize interoperability, resilience, cyber capabilities, and stockpiling of munitions in cooperation with NATO Supply Agency and allied logistics networks.
Category:Latvian military