Latvia prepares for hybrid war against Belarus and Russia
Latvian President Egils Levits (photo: Getty Images)
Latvian President Egils Levits believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is obsessed with the idea of restoring the Russian Empire. He suggests that Latvians should be prepared for hybrid warfare, according to Delfi.
The Latvian leader emphasized that Russian propaganda indicates Putin's dream of restoring the Russian Empire to its 19th-early 20th-century form. He believes that Latvia must be prepared for hybrid warfare.
Additionally, the president reminded that Canada leads the enhanced Forward Presence battle group in Latvia, which is planned to be increased to brigade level. It includes soldiers from allied countries, including Poland.
"We see attempts to use new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. This is the first cyberwar. I can agree with people who have talked a lot about our first line of defense being Ukraine. We'd better thank the Ukrainians who are fighting than, perhaps, they would have to thank us," said Rinkevics.
Latvia's assistance to Ukraine
Latvia is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine, which will include howitzers, ammunition, and more. An agreement on military cooperation between the countries has also been signed, particularly regarding drone production.
Overall, Latvia has provided Ukraine with assistance amounting to 595 million euros since the start of Russia's full-scale aggression. This constitutes 0.85% of the country's GDP.
On December 12, 2023, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and his Latvian counterpart, Andris Spruds, discussed the formation of a drone coalition. The Ukrainian official expressed gratitude to the Latvian side for the corresponding initiative.
Umerov also added that thanks to the supplies from Latvia, including ammunition, artillery, anti-tank and infantry weapons, UAVs, ATGMs, and many other modern tools, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are approaching victory.
