Latvia must be prepared to resist any aggression for at least ten days - Murniece

RIGA - Latvia must be prepared to resist any aggression and threats for at least ten days, Defense Minister Inara Murniece (National Alliance) said in a discussion on Latvia's new national defense concept Monday. 

Under the North Atlantic Treaty, an armed attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all member states of the alliance, but the minister noted that the treaty also obliges each member state to develop and maintain its own individual and collective abilities to resist an armed attack. 

As regards the main threats to our region, Murniece believes that Russia's policies are  unlikely to change in a foreseeable future. 

To restore lasting peace in the region, Ukraine must achieve a complete victory in the war started by Russia and Russia must be defeated. Ukraine must win back its territories currently under Russian occupation. Also, an international tribunal must be establish to investigate and prosecute Russia's crimes of aggression. 

Meanwhile, Belarus too is playing an increasingly important role in the Kremlin's military strategy, which means that Latvia must reckon with potential threats from Belarus, the defense minister said. 

The national defense concept is a political planning document, defining strategic goals and basic principles of the country's national defense. The Saeima adopted Latvia's current national defense concept in 2020. 

Murniece said in the discussion that the new geopolitical situation requires completing work on the new defense concept sooner than stipulated by law. According to the law, the 14th Saeima, which was elected in 2022, is supposed to vote on Latvia's new defense concept in the second year after its election.