On 16 April, President Edgars Rinkēvičs chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at the premises of the Constitution Protection Bureau. The primary items on the agenda of the meeting were the security of the Latvia’s eastern border and the current situation in the field of civil protection.
The Chief of the State Border Guard General Guntis Pujāts, and the Commander of the National Armed Forces Major General Kaspars Pudāns briefed the National Security Council on the situation along Latvia’s eastern border in relation to illegal immigration. They also provided an update on the progress made in the development of the state border security infrastructure, strengthening the state border militarily, implementing counter-mobility measures, and introducing technological solutions. The National Security Council recognised the significance of collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence in ensuring effective border protection along the external border of NATO and the European Union—particularly in light of the growing intensity of hybrid activities.
The National Security Council positively recognised the report presented by Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis and the Chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service Colonel Mārtiņš Baltmanis on the progress made in improving the civil protection system. This includes the development of shelter infrastructure, the introduction of cell broadcast alert systems, and the provision of state material reserves. The Council underscored the importance of close coordination between state institutions, municipalities, and the private sector to ensure preparedness for internal security challenges. It also expressed consensus on the need to strengthen cooperation, planning, and joint exercises with municipalities to raise awareness of the civil protection measures to be implemented.
The meeting also heard reports from national security agencies on the current situation.