No additional security measures needed in Latvia at the moment - Rinkevics

RIGA - No additional security measures are needed in Latvia at the moment, President Edgars Rinkevics told reporters on Wednesday, commenting on the Constitutional Protection Bureau's 2025 annual report, which said that the security risks posed by Russia to Europe and Latvia were increasing significantly.

Information on the current threat level in Latvia is regularly discussed by national security authorities and top officials of the country, and decisions on what security measures are necessary are based on information provided by the security authorities.

According to Rinkevics, the Constitutional Protection Bureau and the State Security Service warn in their reports that residents must remain vigilant. Such warnings, the president said, "are good".

At the moment, no special security measures beyond those regularly taken in Latvia are necessary, said Rinkevics, adding that from time to time information is received about espionage activities and potential sabotage. "And my advice to the public would be, if you see something suspicious in your region, in your city, maybe on social networks, report it to security authorities. Only together can we fight this threat," said the president.

In his opinion, nothing described in the Constitutional Protection Bureau or Security Service's reports currently warrants any special security activities.

As reported, the Constitutional Protection Bureau (SAB) released its 2025 annual report earlier this week, stressing that Russia does not pose a direct military threat to Latvia at the moment, but a number of signs point to potential plans in the long term.

The SAB stresses that Russia’s goal is to weaken the West both nationally and internationally. Over the past few years, Moscow’s perception of the West as an existential threat to the ruling regime has intensified. Russia believes it has already entered a direct confrontation with the West: the struggle takes place not only in Ukraine, but also globally and ideologically. Russia’s aggravated threat perception means a significant increase of security threats for Europe, stated in the report.

To implement its influence and plans, Russia continues to use and constantly adapt existing ones, as well as create new hybrid instruments. One of the instruments that is increasingly being applied is the use of legal mechanisms in the international arena with the aim to discredit Latvia on an international level and ensure a long-term international pressure on Latvia to change its policy towards Russia and the Russian-speaking population. There is a separate chapter in the report, explaining the use of this mechanism.

In SAB’s assessment Russia will continue to pose a significant military threat to European countries and NATO. The militarization of the Russian economy will continue even after a potential conclusion or freezing of the war in Ukraine

SAB’s information shows that Russia’s perception of Latvia is becoming increasingly similar to the one Russia had of Ukraine before the war. While Russia does not pose a direct military threat to Latvia at the moment, a number of signs indicate potential long-term plans.