RIGA - At present, there are no observable military threats from Russia, but the public must remain vigilant, emphasized President Edgars Rinkevics, who met with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) at Riga Castle on Wednesday.
He emphasized that NATO and European Union (EU) member states regularly exchange various types of information, including analytical and intelligence data. According to the President, no direct military threats have been observed, but hybrid operations cannot be ruled out; one such operation has been underway on the border between Latvia and Belarus since 2021.
Rinkevics emphasized that various acts of sabotage cannot be ruled out either, so the public should remain vigilant and pay attention to any suspicious activities. The President confirmed that security agencies are also working with allies and analyzing information, and that many threats have already been thwarted.
Given that Russia is bogged down in Ukraine and is unpredictable, the countries on the eastern flank are paying heightened attention to various types of signals and continue to do everything possible to ensure security, said Rinkevics.
In recent weeks, several officials from the Baltic states and other countries in the region have stated that Russia is bogged down in the war in Ukraine, thereby increasing the threat that it might recklessly seek to test its luck and target a country in NATO’s eastern region.
Speaking about Latvia’s readiness to respond to potential provocations and hybrid attacks, the President noted that both the national security agencies and the interior and defense systems as a whole are constantly analyzing developments in the situation.
Rinkevics emphasized that the country’s highest-ranking officials regularly receive information from agencies regarding various types of cases that are not only being investigated but are also yielding concrete results.
The President explained that when it is possible to inform the public-namely, when there are specific charges and arrests-the public is informed; but, given the nature of this work, it is not always possible to do so.
"Can we predict everything and be prepared for everything? No, to be honest, that’s why it’s a gray area," said Rinkevics.
The President emphasized that these issues have been the subject of much discussion recently, as information is periodically brought to light that is not always confirmed, and the situation is changing radically-some issues that were relevant a couple of months ago have lost their relevance, while new challenges are emerging.
Rinkevics emphasized that he highly values the work of the security agencies, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, and other institutions. He also called on the public to be understanding of the fact that not all information can be provided immediately.
"Overall, security will never be a final result; security is a constantly evolving process, and it is impossible to catch absolutely everything 100 percent of the time. I believe we are responding appropriately, but something new comes up every day," said the President.
Rinkevics noted that at Wednesday’s meeting of the National Security Council (NDP), the council plans to hear briefings from national security agencies, as well as information on election security and technological solutions, as well as procedures to follow if, due to an air raid alert or other reasons, one or more polling stations are unable to carry out the electoral process. As Rinkevics emphasized, a corresponding bill is also before the Saeima.
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