Editing Latvia (section)

=== Military ===
{{Main|Military of Latvia}}
[[File:Naval visit, Belfast (3) - geograph.org.uk - 667223.jpg|thumb|Naval Forces minehunter ''Imanta'']]
[[File:CVR(T) Scimitar In Latvia.jpg|thumb|[[Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)|CVR(T) Scimitar]] in Latvian service]]
The [[Latvian National Armed Forces|National Armed Forces]] (Latvian: ''Nacionālie bruņotie spēki (NAF)'') of Latvia consists of the [[Latvian Land Forces|Land Forces]], [[Latvian Naval Forces|Naval Forces]], [[Latvian Air Force|Air Force]], [[Latvian National Guard|National Guard]], [[Latvian Special Tasks Unit|Special Tasks Unit]], [[Latvian Military Police|Military Police]], [[Latvian National Armed Forces Staff Battalion|NAF staff Battalion]], Training and Doctrine Command, and Logistics Command. Latvia's defence concept is based upon the Swedish-Finnish model of a rapid response force composed of a mobilisation base and a small group of career professionals. From 1 January 2007, Latvia switched to a professional fully contract-based army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/Ministrija/Vadiiba.aspx|title=Aizsardzības ministrija|work=mod.gov.lv|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427123545/http://www.mod.gov.lv/Ministrija/Vadiiba.aspx|archive-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

Latvia participates in international peacekeeping and security operations. Latvian armed forces have contributed to [[NATO]] and EU military operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996–2009), Albania (1999), Kosovo (2000–2009), Macedonia (2003), Iraq (2005–2006), Afghanistan (since 2003), Somalia (since 2011) and Mali (since 2013).<ref name="Participation in International operations">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/security/Directions/InternationalOperations/|title=Participation in International operations|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208204137/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/security/Directions/InternationalOperations/|archive-date=8 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Previous operations">{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas.aspx|title=Previous operations|language=lv|publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013435/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas.aspx|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/NATO.aspx|title=Latvia and NATO|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Latvia|year=2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309034354/http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/NATO.aspx|archive-date=9 March 2012}}</ref> Latvia also took part in the US-led [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Multi-National Force]] operation in Iraq (2003–2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas/OIF.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805052619/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas/OIF.aspx |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=US-led coalition forces operation in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) |language=lv |publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref> and [[OSCE]] missions in Georgia, Kosovo and Macedonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805085254/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas.aspx |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Other operations |language=lv |publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref> Latvian armed forces contributed to a UK-led [[EU Battlegroup|Battlegroup]] in 2013 and the [[Nordic Battle Group|Nordic Battlegroup]] in 2015 under the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] (CSDP) of the European Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/XXIV/EU/09/23/EU_92315/imfname_10376183.pdf|title=EU Battlegroup Offers and Commitments|publisher=Council of the European Union|date=26 September 2012|access-date=25 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922080759/http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/XXIV/EU/09/23/EU_92315/imfname_10376183.pdf|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Latvia acts as the lead nation in the coordination of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)#Northern Distribution Network|Northern Distribution Network]] for transportation of non-lethal [[ISAF]] cargo by air and rail to Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=56833|title=Dombrovskis and US Ambassador Garber visit Riga Airport to inspect cargo plane to Afghanistan|publisher=[[The Baltic Course]]|year=2012|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712005148/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=56833|archive-date=12 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-911EB74B-3555D8D2/natolive/news_74763.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=One year on: ISAF's trans-European supply routes are a success|publisher=NATO|year=2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515185424/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-911EB74B-3555D8D2/natolive/news_74763.htm?selectedLocale=en|archive-date=15 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2C1657C8-A07AD24F/natolive/news_64397.htm?|title=NATO opens new communication lines to Afghanistan|publisher=NATO|year=2010|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516032845/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2C1657C8-A07AD24F/natolive/news_64397.htm|archive-date=16 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It is part of the Nordic Transition Support Unit (NTSU), which renders joint force contributions in support of Afghan security structures ahead of the withdrawal of Nordic and Baltic ISAF forces in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120913/DEFREG01/309130008/Nordic-Military-Alliance-Latvia-Afghanistan|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121105912/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120913/DEFREG01/309130008/Nordic-Military-Alliance-Latvia-Afghanistan|archive-date=21 January 2013|title=Nordic Military Alliance With Latvia in Afghanistan|author=Gerard O'Dwyer|publisher=DefenseNews|date=13 September 2012|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> Since 1996 more than 3600 military personnel have participated in international operations,<ref name="Previous operations" /> of whom 7 soldiers perished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Kritusie_karaviri.aspx|title=Fallen soldiers|language=lv|publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013440/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Kritusie_karaviri.aspx|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> Per capita, Latvia is one of the largest contributors to international military operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm|title=Background Note: Latvia|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=18 November 2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194450/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm|archive-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvian civilian experts have contributed to EU civilian missions: border assistance mission to Moldova and Ukraine (2005–2009), rule of law missions in Iraq (2006 and 2007) and Kosovo (since 2008), police mission in Afghanistan (since 2007) and monitoring mission in Georgia (since 2008).<ref name="Participation in International operations" />

Since March 2004, when the [[Baltic states]] joined NATO, fighter jets of NATO members have been deployed on a rotational basis for the [[Baltic Air Policing]] mission at [[Šiauliai International Airport|Šiauliai Airport]] in Lithuania to guard the Baltic airspace. Latvia participates in several [[NATO Centres of Excellence]]: Civil-Military Co-operation in the Netherlands, [[Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence|Cooperative Cyber Defence]] in Estonia and Energy Security in Lithuania. It plans to establish the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2013/october/061103-vk-01/ |title=V.Dombrovskis: Latvia sees the opportunity to strengthen NATO's strategic communication capability |publisher=The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020016/http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2013/october/061103-vk-01/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}</ref>

Latvia co-operates with Estonia and Lithuania in several trilateral Baltic defence co-operation initiatives:
* Baltic Battalion ''(BALTBAT)''&nbsp;– infantry battalion for participation in international peace support operations, headquartered near [[Riga]], Latvia;
* [[Baltic Naval Squadron]] ''(BALTRON)''&nbsp;– naval force with mine countermeasures capabilities, headquartered near [[Tallinn]], Estonia;
* [[Baltic Air Surveillance Network]] ''(BALTNET)''&nbsp;– air surveillance information system, headquartered near [[Kaunas]], Lithuania;
* Joint military educational institutions: [[Baltic Defence College]] in [[Tartu]], Estonia, Baltic Diving Training Centre in [[Liepāja]], Latvia and Baltic Naval Communications Training Centre in [[Tallinn]], Estonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/4105 |title=Baltic Defence Co-operation |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |year=2002 |access-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805201335/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F4105 |archive-date= 5 August 2011 }}</ref>

Future co-operation will include sharing of national infrastructures for training purposes and specialisation of training areas ''(BALTTRAIN)'' and collective formation of battalion-sized contingents for use in the NATO rapid-response force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2011/news_archive_2011_-_12/baltic_defence_ministers_announced_new_defence_cooperation_initiatives.html|title=Baltic Defence Ministers announced new defence cooperation initiatives|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania|year=2011|access-date=28 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723054233/http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2011/news_archive_2011_-_12/baltic_defence_ministers_announced_new_defence_cooperation_initiatives.html|archive-date=23 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2011, the Baltic states were invited to join [[Nordic Defence Cooperation]], the defence framework of the [[Nordic countries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/10686 |title=Nordic Countries Invite Baltics to Join Defence Co-operation Framework |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608191401/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F10686 |archive-date= 8 June 2012 }}</ref> In November 2012, the three countries agreed to create a joint military staff in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.err.ee/8140850c-b0bb-408b-96c6-7641b1bbfd10 |title=Joint Baltic Military Staff to Be Established |publisher=Estonian Public Broadcasting |date=9 November 2012 |access-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111213413/http://news.err.ee/8140850c-b0bb-408b-96c6-7641b1bbfd10 |archive-date=11 November 2012 }}</ref>

On 21 April 2022, Latvian Saeima passed amendments developed by the Ministry of Defence for the legislative draft Amendments to the Law on Financing of National Defence, which provide for gradual increase in the defence budget to 2.5% of the country's GDP over the course of the next three year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2022 |title=Latvian parliament approves of increasing defence budget |url=https://bnn-news.com/latvian-parliament-approves-of-increasing-defence-budget-234131 |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia |language=en-US |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422072629/https://bnn-news.com/latvian-parliament-approves-of-increasing-defence-budget-234131 |url-status=live }}</ref>