Arthur Greene
The Eastern European nation of Latvia has announced that it is reinstating military conscription for all young men as fears grow of a Russian invasion.
Defence Minister Artis Pabriks announced on Tuesday that all men aged 18-27 will have to complete 11 months of military service in a bid to stave off Russian aggression.
Pabriks said in a statement that the measure will make Russia think twice before launching a potential “zero-warning” attack on its neighbour.
“The current military system of Latvia has reached its limit. Meanwhile, we have no reason to think that Russia will change its behaviour,” Pabriks told reporters.
Ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, other neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe have expressed fears that they could be Russia’s next target.
Early on in the invasion, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned: “If we are no more, then God forbid, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will be next.”
Since the Ukrainian invasion, Putin has not publicly expressed any desire to invade these countries, but Latvia’s leaders clearly wonder why they would be treated differently from Ukraine.
Latvia has not had compulsory military conscription since 2007, a few years after it joined Nato (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
The small nation currently has around 7,000 active soldiers, according to Politico. However, Pabriks wants 30,000 – 40,000 residents to have military training.
Pabriks also announced plans to build a new military base near the eastern city of Jēkabpils, which is closer to the Russian border than the current base at Ādaži.
Image source: Dreamtime
