War in Ukraine has proven that Latvia has chosen the right national defense strategy - NAF commander

  • 2022-03-24
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Russia's war in Ukraine has proved that Latvia has chosen the right national defense strategy, Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins, Commander of the National Armed Forces (NAF), told Latvian Television.

He noted that Latvia's strategy involves the extensive involvement of forces to build a defense system. This means the involvement of all state structures, non-governmental bodies and also the public, which is currently a very important factor in Ukraine as well.

From a military point of view, Latvia has implemented the gradual introduction of new capabilities, which means that easily deployable systems are being introduced on a large scale, such as anti-tank capabilities, anti-aircraft defense weapons, and extensive armaments with the same system of weapons. The operation of this type of scheme in Ukraine confirms that Latvia's strategy is correct, Kalnins emphasizes.

Speaking about the arguments in the public sphere that the Baltic States need to ensure themselves with medium-range air defense systems, the NAF Commander stated that in the short term this problem could be solved by ongoing maneuvers or short-term or long-term deployment of allied systems.

At the same time, Latvia is provided with medium-range air defense systems by its closest NATO neighbors, such as Poland. However, if this type of system were located in Latvia, its operational density would increase and operational efficiency would improve. Kalnins also pointed out that aviation can also be used as an air defense system.