On 7 August, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Minister of Defence Ināra Mūrniece at the Riga Castle to discuss current national security and defence issues.
"I highly appreciate the first results, the responsiveness and the ability of the National Armed Forces to provide our young recruits with excellent conditions and training programme for national defence service. I would like to thank in particular the first young national defence recruits who have volunteered. I hope that the foundations laid will be a good incentive for other young people to respond and apply for national defence service. I also gained confidence in the enhanced cooperation of the National Armed Forces with the State Border Guard, which, together with the soldiers of the NATO-allied units in Latvia, is ready to provide all the necessary support at any time of the day on the external border of Latvia and thus also of NATO," said President Rinkēvičs after the meeting.
The President welcomed the increase of the Canada-led NATO Enhanced Presence Battle Group in Latvia from battalion to brigade level. As a very tangible step towards this, the Canadian force will be reinforced by 15 Leopard tank units in the autumn.
During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the construction of the Selija military training area and the development of the military industry in Latvia.
