Conscription will be reinstated in Latvia from 2023. However, only men are called up.
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Latvia reintroduces conscription. “Latvia’s current military system has reached its limit,” Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said on Tuesday. “Meanwhile, we have no reason to believe that Russia will change its behavior.”
According to the minister, military service is to be introduced in the coming year and will apply to men. Pabriks also announced plans to build a new military base in the country.
Border with Russia and Belarus
The Baltic state abolished conscription in the years after joining NATO. Since 2007, the Latvian Armed Forces have consisted of professional soldiers, and there is also a National Guard made up of volunteers. The country with almost two million inhabitants and borders with Russia and Belarus currently only has 7,500 professional soldiers and national guardsmen. In addition, 1,500 NATO soldiers are stationed in Latvia.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has raised fears in many Eastern European countries that they themselves could become the target of Russian aggression. The Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in particular feel threatened. In June they called for more support from NATO allies.
debate in Germany
After the start of the Ukraine war, there was also a brief debate in Germany about reintroducing military service. In addition to leading SPD politicians, the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Eberhard Zorn, also spoke out against it. He justified this primarily with special tasks that soldiers have today and that could not be mastered by conscripts. There had been calls from the CDU for general compulsory service, which should also include military service. Germany currently has almost 180,000 soldiers, plus 29,000 active reservists.