RIGA - Latvia needs to prepare to prevent worst-case scenarios in the coming years, President Edgars Rinkevics said at the National Armed Forces (NAF) change of command ceremony at the Freedom Monument in Riga on Friday.
As the president's adviser Martins Dregeris told LETA, as he congratulated Brigadier General Kaspars Pudans, who is taking over from Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins as the new NAF Commander on January 27, the president stressed in his speech that these are very turbulent times.
"This is a time of continued Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is a time when hybrid warfare is being waged against our country in various forms, but I am confident that Brigadier General Pudans' expertise and experience will be sufficient and adequate for him to honorably fulfil the duties of the armed forces commander," Rinkevics said.
In his words, this will only be possible if all members of the armed forces are a united team. The president is confident that this will be possible when Brigadier General Pudans wins public support. Rinkevics also expressed confidence that the Latvian armed forces under the new NAF Commander will be able to achieve this. The president wished all the armed forces and the new commander strength, professionalism, endurance and honorable service to Latvia.
As reported, Pudans is due to replace the outgoing NAF Commander, Lieutenant General Kalnins, on January 27.
The Saeima approved the former National Guard commander, Brigadier General Pudans, as NAF Commander on December 19, 2024.
According to the National Armed Forces Law, the Saeima approves the NAF Commander for four years and dismisses him upon the proposal of the president.
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