On 23 January, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Lieutenant General Leonids Kalniņš, Commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS), at the Riga Castle. During the meeting, the parties discussed current developments in the NBS and the military defence of Latvia's eastern border.
The President was informed about the introduction of the State Defence Service and the first random selection of conscripts, which took place today. President Rinkēvičs expressed the view that it is important to continue explaining the selection process to young people and the public as widely as possible. "We must remember that this is a first-time event, which is why efforts must be undertaken to share information and participate in discussions with the public and particularly with the young people, who have been chosen via the selection process. I call on you to maintain the excellent reputation of the State Defence Service both among the recruits and the National Armed Forces," urged the President of Latvia.
The NBS Commander also provided a brief regarding military defence measures required for securing Latvia's eastern border. President Rinkēvičs invited the NBS Commander to inform Latvian society about practical steps taken to strengthen the military defence of the country's eastern border. In addition, it was announced that an action plan for strengthening the military defence of Latvia's eastern border will be reviewed at the meeting of the National Security Council on 24 January this year, including the tasks to be executed in line with an operational timeframe.
