Editing Latvian National Armed Forces

{{Short description|Combined military forces of Latvia}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = Latvian National Armed Forces
| native_name = {{native name|lv|Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki}}
| image = Coat of Arms of Latvian National Armed Forces.svg
| alt = 
| caption = Emblem of the Latvian National Armed Forces
| image2 = 
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| motto = {{lang|lv|Gods kalpot Latvijai!}}<br />{{small|(English: "It is an honor to serve Latvia!")}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1919|7|10}}
| current_form = {{start date and age|df=y|1991|8|23}}
| disbanded = 
| branches = {{blist|[[Latvian Land Forces|Land Forces]]|[[Latvian Naval Forces|Naval Forces]]|[[Latvian Air Force|Air Force]]|[[Latvian National Guard|National Guard]]}}
| headquarters = [[Riga]], [[Latvia]]
| website = {{URL|mil.lv/en}}
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[President of Latvia|President]]
| chief minister = [[Evika Siliņa]]
| chief minister_title = [[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]]
| minister = [[Andris Sprūds]]
| minister_title = [[List of Ministers of Defence of Latvia|Minister of Defence]]
| commander = [[Major General]] [[Kaspars Pudāns]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Par_mums/Vadiba.aspx|website=www.mil.lv|title=NBS Vadība|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112854/http://www.mil.lv/Par_mums/Vadiba.aspx|archive-date=24 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| commander_title = [[Commander of the Joint Headquarters (Latvia)|Commander of the Joint Headquarters]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = 18
| conscription = Yes<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/05.04.2023-compulsory-military-service-to-be-re-introduced-in-latvia.a503763/ | title=Compulsory military service to be re-introduced in Latvia }}</ref>
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 
| available = 
| available_f = 
| fit = 
| fit_f = 
| reaching = 
| reaching_f = 
| active = 17,345<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums | title=Par mums &#124; Nacionālie bruņotie spēki }}</ref>
| ranked = 
| reserve = 38,000<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums | title=Par mums &#124; Nacionālie bruņotie spēki }}</ref>
| deployed = <!-- Financial -->
| amount = €1.559 billion {{small|(2025)}}<ref name="budget">{{cite web|url=https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/news/saeima-approves-latvian-defence-budget-2025-more-eur-1559-billion |title=Saeima approves Latvian defence budget for 2025 of more than EUR 1,559 billion|publisher=mod.gov.lv|date=2024-12-27|accessdate=2025-01-06}}</ref>
| percent_GDP = 3.45% {{small|(2025)}}<ref name="budget"/>
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers = 
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = {{blist|[[Latvian War of Independence]]|[[Latvian national partisans]]|[[2001 War in Afghanistan]]|[[Iraq War]]|[[Kosovo Force]]|[[EUTM Mali]]|[[Operation Atalanta]]|[[Operation Sophia]]| [[MINUSMA]]|[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]|[[Resolute Support Mission]]}}
| ranks = [[Military ranks of Latvia]]
}}

The '''Latvian National Armed Forces''' ({{langx|lv|Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki}}), or '''NBS''', are the [[armed forces]] of [[Latvia]]. Latvia's defense concept is based on a mobile, professional rapid response force and a reserve segment that can be called upon relatively fast for mobilization should the need arise. The National Armed Forces consists of [[Latvian Land Forces|Land Forces]], [[Latvian Naval Forces|Naval Forces]], [[Latvian Air Force|Air Force]] and [[Latvian National Guard|National Guard]]. Its main tasks are to protect the territory of the State; participate in international military operations; and to prevent threats to national security.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/~/media/AM/Aktualitates/Publikacijas/Informativie%20materiali/Informativas%20lapas/2018/NBS%20faktu%20lapa_ENG_2018.ashx|title=Fact sheet "Latvian National Armed Forces" (2018)|website=Mod.gov.lv|access-date=6 August 2018}}</ref>

==Mission==
The mission of the National Armed Forces (NAF) is to defend the [[sovereignty]] and territorial integrity of the nation and to defend its population against foreign or domestic armed aggression. In order to implement these tasks, the NAF provide for the defence of the nation, its air space and national territorial waters, participate in large scale [[crisis]] response operations, perform emergency [[rescue]] operations, and participate in international [[peacekeeping]] operations.

The main mission of the National Armed Forces is to:

*Provide for the inviolability of all national territory, its waters and air space;
*Participate in international operations;
*Participate in national threat elimination;
*Provide for the training of personnel and military reserves;
*Ensure modernization and enhancement of professional combat training.

==History==
{{See also|Military history of Latvia during World War II}}

=== War of Independence, peacetime (1919–1940) ===
The Latvian armed forces were first formed soon after the new state was [[Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia|proclaimed]] in November 1918 after [[World War I]], with the official founding of the '''{{Interlanguage link|Latvian Armed Forces (1919–1940)|lt=Latvian Armed Forces|lv|Latvijas Bruņotie spēki}}''' ({{Langx|lv|Latvijas Bruņotie spēki}}) on July 10, 1919, when the {{Interlanguage link|North Latvian Brigade|lt=North Latvian|lv|Ziemeļlatvijas brigāde|WD=}} and {{Interlanguage link|South Latvian Brigade|lt=|lv|Dienvidlatvijas brigāde}}, which were loyal to the [[Latvian Provisional Government]], were merged. Seasoned general [[Dāvids Sīmansons]] was appointed as the first Commander-in-Chief. At the end of the [[Latvian War of Independence]], the Latvian Army consisted of 69,232 men. 
[[File:Ziemellatvijas brigade Riga 1919.jpg|left|thumb|The North Latvian Brigade in mid-1919]]
In terms of equipment, the Latvian military during its first independence period (1919–1940) was armed mostly with British weapons and gear. The average Latvian infantry soldier in the 1930s is believed to have carried 31,4 [[Kilogram|kg]] of equipment in the winter months, and around 29,1&nbsp;kg in the summer. The main service rifle was the British [[Pattern 1914 Enfield]], and the amount of standard issue ammunition for an infantry soldier was 45 rounds of [[.303 British|.303]] (7,7mm) caliber. In addition, troops had access to three different types of hand grenades (defense, attack and rifle grenades). The Latvian Army had acquired a wide variety of machine guns in different calibers, through various means: trophies acquired from hostile forces during the War of Independence, [[Allies of World War I|allied]] donations and subsequent official state purchases. Light machine guns included the French [[Chauchat]], Danish [[Madsen machine gun|Madsen]], and British [[Lewis gun]] (which became the main light machine gun of the Latvian Army). The main heavy machine gun was the British [[Vickers machine gun]] in the .303 (7,7mm) caliber, although the army also kept Russian [[PM M1910]] machine guns in reserve. In general, the Latvian Army lacked automatic weapons of all calibers, and the ones it did have were becoming increasingly outdated towards the start of [[World War II]] (most of the weapons in service were from World War I). In terms of heavy weapons, the Latvian military had acquired a rather large number of different artillery systems in different calibers, around 400 artillery pieces in total (although most of these were outdated and worn out due to heavy use and age). The main artillery gun for infantry support was the British [[Ordnance QF 18-pounder]] field gun and British [[QF 4.5-inch howitzer]], although there were also several types of French, German and Russian artillery guns in reserve. For anti-tank weapons, in 1938 the army received the Austrian 47&nbsp;mm [[Cannone da 47/32]] anti-tank cannons, which were reasonably effective against early World War II tanks. For infantry mortars, a number of [[81 mm mortar|81mm mortars]] were acquired from [[Finland]] some time around the late 1930s, but it is unclear how many were delivered and in service at the start of World War II. In terms of individual equipment, the standard helmet were surplus M1916/18 [[Stahlhelm]]s or [[Adrian helmet]]s.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Dambītis |first=Kārlis |date=2016 |title=Latvijas armijas artilērija 1919.-1940.g.: Vieta bruņotajos spēkos, struktūra un uzdevumi |trans-title=Artillery of the Latvian Army (1918–1940): structure, tasks and place in the Armed forces |url=https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/31857?locale-attribute=en |publisher=University of Latvia |type=PhD thesis |page=178, 230}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=MA |first=S. Kiersons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9szOAwAAQBAJ&dq=latvian++m16+helmet&pg=PA62 |title=Boys of the Dvina - Latvia's Army 1918-1940 |date=2012-06-23 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-300-01591-8 |pages=62, 63 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Soldiers of the Latvian National Armed Forces in Liepāja in November 1920.jpg|thumb|Latvian soldiers in [[Liepāja]] in November 1920]]
In terms of vehicles, the Latvian military was seriously lacking in motorized transport, and thus had to rely mostly on railroads and horse-drawn carriages for most of its logistics needs. The military leadership did make an effort to solve this problem at the end of the 1930s by purchasing a small number of cars, trucks, artillery tractors and motorbikes, but at the start of World War II, only a small portion of the Latvian military had access to motorized vehicles. In terms of armoured vehicles, the Latvian military had six [[Armoured train|armoured trains]], a [[Carden Loyd tankette]], seven [[Armored car (military)|armoured car]]s and 24 tanks of various designs and combat abilities. In terms of air power, at the start of World War II the [[Latvian Air Force]] had around 30 fighter planes and 24 [[Scout plane|scout planes]], of which only some were the relatively modern [[Gloster Gladiator]] fighters, 24 training and 6 seaplanes. Thus, the Latvian military during the interwar era was more or less comparable both in equipment and size to its other Baltic neighbours, such as [[Estonia]], [[Lithuania]] and Finland.<ref name="Andersons 2006 520">{{cite book| last = Andersons| first = Edgars |title = Armed Forces of Latvia and their historical background .| publisher = Daugavas Vanagi| location = [[Riga]]| pages = 520| year = 2006| isbn = 9984794555 }}</ref> The Armed Forces were also supported by the volunteer [[Aizsargi|Aizsargi Organization]].

=== World War II and the occupation of the Baltic states (1939–1991) ===
[[File:Garford-Putilov Kurzemnieks.jpg|left|thumb|Latvian Army [[Garford-Putilov Armoured Car|Garford-Putilov]] armored car "Kurzemnieks", 1920s]]
However, the most crucial problem and flaw for both the Latvian military and other militaries of the [[Baltic states]] on the eve of World War II had to do with the failure to organize effective military cooperation between all the Baltic states in case of a new war in the region. The Latvian command in the interwar period had given very little attention towards any possible coordination of forces with either the Estonian or Lithuanian armies against a possible enemy, and so the Latvian military planned its actions and doctrine in almost complete isolation, oblivious to whatever its neighbours to the north (Estonia) or south (Lithuania) did. This ultimately led to flawed and questionable choices in creating defense plans against both [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]] (there were separate plans towards both of these possible aggressors), since the Latvian higher command was unsure as to how Latvia's neighbours would react in the event such a conflict started.
<ref name="Andersons 2006 520"/>
 
After the [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|Soviet occupation of Latvia]] in June 1940, during which the armed forces did not intervene following orders, the annihilation of the Latvian Army began. The army was first renamed the '''People's Army of Latvia''' ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]: ''Latvijas Tautas armija'') and in September–November 1940 – the [[Red Army|Red Army's]] [[24th Territorial Rifle Corps]]. The corps comprised the [[181st Rifle Division|181st]] and [[183rd Rifle Division|183rd]] Rifle Divisions. In September the corps contained 24,416 men but in autumn more than 800 officers and about 10,000 instructors and soldiers were discharged. The arrests of soldiers continued in the following months. In June 1940, the entire Territorial Corps was sent to [[Litene]] camp. Before leaving the camp, Latvians drafted in 1939 were demobilised, and replaced by about 4,000 Russian soldiers from the area around Moscow. On June 10, the corps' senior officers were sent to Russia where they were arrested and most of them shot. On June 14 at least 430 officers were arrested and sent to [[Gulag]] camps. After the [[Operation Barbarossa|German attack]] against the Soviet Union, from June 29 to July 1 more than 1980 Latvian soldiers were demobilised, fearing that they might turn their weapons against the Russian commissars and officers. Simultaneously, many soldiers and officers deserted and when the corps crossed the Latvian border into the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], only about 3,000 Latvian soldiers remained.<ref>{{cite book| last = Bleiere| first = Daina |author2=Ilgvars Butulis |author3=Antonijs Zunda |author4=Aivars Stranga |author5=Inesis Feldmanis| title = History of Latvia : the 20th century.| publisher = Jumava| location = [[Riga]]| pages = 327| year = 2006| isbn = 9984-38-038-6| oclc = 70240317}}</ref> During and after World War II, many former veterans were a part of the fighters of the [[Guerrilla war in the Baltic states|anti-Soviet National Partisan resistance movement]] opposing the continued Soviet occupation.

=== After restoration of independence (1991–present) ===
[[File:Latvian Soldiers, San Gregorio, Spain, NATO Trident Juncture 15 (22523462580).jpg|thumb|250px|Latvian soldiers during the NATO exercise "Trident Juncture 2015"]]
The origin of the current Latvian armed forces can be traced to the establishment of the Latvian National Guard or [[Latvian National Guard|Zemessardze]] on August 23, 1991, which served as the first organized defence force after the restoration of the independence of Latvia. Unlike other Soviet republics, it is one of the military forces in the Baltic states that were not formed from the [[Baltic Military District]]. From the beginning, the reconstituted defense forces were modeled according to NATO standards with assistance from the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Sweden]] etc. 

A notable moment in the history of the armed forces is the accession to the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] on 29 March 2004, after Latvia received a [[Membership action plan|Membership Action Plan]] in 1999 and, ultimately, an invite was extended to it and six other countries during the [[2002 Prague summit]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO - 29 March 2004|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm|access-date=2022-02-06|website=www.nato.int}}</ref> Previously, Latvia co-founded the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council|North Atlantic Cooperation Council]] in 1991 and joined the [[Partnership for Peace]] program in 1994.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Latvia and NATO {{!}} Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/306/latvia-and-nato|access-date=2022-02-06|website=www.mod.gov.lv|language=en|archive-date=2022-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216104051/http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/306/latvia-and-nato|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Since the 1990s, personnel of the NAF has been deployed to a number of peacekeeping, training and support missions – the NATO Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina ([[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|SFOR]]) from 1996 to 2004; the Kosovo Force (KFOR) from 2000 to 2009; the NATO training mission in Iraq ([[NATO Training Mission – Iraq|NTM-I]]) from 2005 to 2006, the NATO International Security Assistance Force ([[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]]) from 2003 to 2015, the [[Resolute Support Mission]] from 2015 to 2021 and others.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-22|title=Latvia to maintain troop presence in Afghanistan and Iraq|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/latvia-to-maintain-troop-presence-in-afghanistan-and-iraq.a306864/|access-date=2022-02-06|website=eng.lsm.lv|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Emblem of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia.jpg|thumb|147x147px|Cap badge of the field uniform]]
In 2007, Latvia abolished conscription, switching to a professional, volunteer-based service model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=LSM, ERR {{!}} |date=2022-07-06 |title=Latvia to establish new military base, reinstate conscription |url=https://news.err.ee/1608649141/latvia-to-establish-new-military-base-reinstate-conscription |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=ERR |language=en}}</ref> However, after the start of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] in 2014, calls for reintroducing mandatory military service reappeared, with the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|full invasion]] of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 being a decisive boost to this momentum, despite initial skepticism from the top leadership in the NAF and the Ministry of Defence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-02 |title=Latvian army commander does not support mandatory service |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/latvian-army-commander-does-not-support-mandatory-service.a441638/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=eng.[[lsm.lv]] |language=en}}</ref> In July 2022, Defence Minister [[Artis Pabriks]] announced a plan for the re-introduction of military service – officially called the National Defense Service ({{Langx|lv|Valsts aizsardzības dienests}}, VAD) – first on a voluntary basis and then in compulsory form at a later date for physically and mentally capable males aged 18–27, starting from January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Latvia plans new military base, return of compulsory national service |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/latvia-plans-new-military-base-return-of-compulsory-national-service.a464196/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}</ref> The [[Government of Latvia]] supported the plan in September, with the next required step being the approval of the [[Saeima]]. The Cabinet also supported the proposed transitional period from 2023 to 2028, that the length of the service would be 10 months and that service can be postponed until 26 years of age. Alternative service options would involve serving in a National Guard unit on a part-time basis for 5 years; civil service or special military courses for students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government supports return of mandatory military service in Latvia |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/government-supports-return-of-mandatory-military-service-in-latvia.a472492/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}</ref>

== Structure ==
[[File:Latvia Armed Forces 2019.png|thumb|right|480px|Structure of the Latvian Armed Forces, 2019]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:NAF 1st Infantry Battalion 01.JPG|thumb|right|180px|A Latvian soldier during a training exercise]] -->
The National Armed Forces consist of:

*[[File:NBS HQ.jpg|NBS HQ|30px]] NAF Joint Headquarters
*NAF Commander's Personal Staff
*[[Image:Latvian Land Forces logo.png|30px]] [[Latvian Land Forces|Land Forces]]
*[[File:Latvian Naval Forces emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian Naval Forces|Naval Forces]]
*[[File:Latvian Air Force emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian Air Force|Air Force]]
*[[File:Latvian National Guard emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian National Guard|National Guard]]
*[[File:Latvian Special Tasks Unit emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian Special Tasks Unit|Special Operations Command]]
*[[File:Latvian Military Police emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian Military Police|Military Police]]
*[[File:Latvian National Armed Forces Staff Battalion emblem.svg|30px]] [[Latvian National Armed Forces Staff Battalion|NAF Staff Battalion]]
*[[File:Latvian Training and Doctrine Command emblem.svg|30px]] Training and Doctrine Command
*[[File:Latvian Logistics Command emblem.svg|30px]] Support Command

The [[Saeima and State President Security Service|Security Service of the Parliament and State President]] was a part of the National Armed Forces until its merger with the Military Police in 2009.

==Personnel==
[[File:Bastille Day 2014 Paris - Color guards 015.jpg|thumb|188x188px|[[Latvian Land Forces|Latvian Army]] [[Staff Battalion (Latvia)|Staff Battalion]] color guard at [[Bastille Day military parade]], 2014]]
{{See also|Ranks and insignia of the Latvian National Armed Forces}}
Latvian National Armed Forces consist of the Regular Force, National Guard and Reserve. On January 1, 2007, conscription was abolished and since then the Regular Force consists of only professional soldiers. Recruits must be 18 years of age or older. As of June 2018, there were 5500 active duty soldiers, 8000 national guards.<ref name=":0"/> By the end of 2017, there were 7900 registered reserve soldiers, of whom about 5000 were retired professional soldiers. According to the National Defence Concept, the National Armed Forces are to maintain 25000 militarily trained personnel, including 6500 professional soldiers, 8005 National Guards and 3010 (trained) reserve soldiers. Reserve training began in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Īvāns |first1=Ansis |title='2% no IKP: Kā mūs aizsargās?' No 8 tūkstošiem rezerves karavīru trīs gados iemaņas atjaunojuši 357 |url=http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/2-no-ikp-ka-mus-aizsargas-no-8-tukstosiem-rezerves-karaviru-tris-gados-iemanas-atjaunojusi-357.d?id=49555249 |website=www.delfi.lv |publisher=DELFI.lv |access-date=6 August 2018 |language=lv |date=20 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The National Defence Concept |url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/~/media/AM/Par_aizsardzibas_nozari/Plani,%20koncepcijas/2016/AIMVAK_260516_EN_2.0.ashx |website=www.mod.gov.lv |access-date=6 August 2018 |location=Riga |date=2016}}</ref>

=== Conscription ===
On April 5, 2023, Latvia decided to re-introduce compulsory national defense service in response to the ongoing [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion in Ukraine]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Latvia reintroduces compulsory military service – DW – 04/07/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-with-the-war-in-ukraine-conscription-returns/a-65257169 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> Conscripted personnel will have to serve in the Latvian National Armed Forces for at least 11 months.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/05/the-first-year-of-conscription-in-latvia/ | title=The First Year of Conscription in Latvia - Foreign Policy Research Institute }}</ref>

The first voluntary conscription began on July 1, 2023, and volunteers had to apply by May 15, 2023. The law foresees two types of service: military and alternative (civil service). Males born after January 1, 2004, are subject to mandatory service, while males and females aged 18 to 27 can apply voluntarily. The law exempts certain individuals, including those whose health status does not comply with service requirements, sole guardians of children, sole caretakers of dependents, and those who have served in a different country if they have dual citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Compulsory military service to be re-introduced in Latvia |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/05.04.2023-compulsory-military-service-to-be-re-introduced-in-latvia.a503763/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> 

During the autumn conscription of 2023, as of 14 November, only 170 people volunteered for service, which means that to reach a thousand by 1 December 2023, it became necessary to use the principle of random selection for the autumn draft in order to recruit the required number of people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Всего 170 добровольцев: в третий призыв в армию могут начать призывать и тех, кто не хочет |url=https://rus.delfi.lv/57860/latvia/56106082/vsego-170-dobrovolcev-v-tretiy-prizyv-v-armiyu-mogut-nachat-prizyvat-i-teh-kto-ne-hochet |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=rus.delfi.lv |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/latvia-defense-minister-women-conscription-russia-ukraine-war/ | title=Latvia's defense minister wants to conscript women by 2028 | date=27 August 2024 }}</ref>

On 27 August 2024, Latvian defense minister [[Andris Sprūds]] announced plans to conscript women into the armed forces by 2028.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/latvia-defense-minister-women-conscription-russia-ukraine-war/ | title=Latvia's defense minister wants to conscript women by 2028 | date=27 August 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://babel.ua/en/news/112380-latvia-may-oblige-women-to-serve-in-the-army-from-2028 | title=Latvia may oblige women to serve in the army from 2028 | date=6 November 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.apa.az/europe/latvias-defense-minister-wants-to-conscript-women-by-2028-446379 | title=Latvia's defense minister wants to conscript women by 2028 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://united24media.com/latest-news/latvian-defense-minister-backs-mandatory-conscription-for-women-by-2028-3559 | title=Latvian Defense Minister Backs Mandatory Conscription for Women by 2028 | date=6 November 2024 }}</ref>

==Operations==

=== International cooperation ===
[[File:Latvian Army soldier Diwaniyah 2006.jpg|thumb|Latvian Army 2nd battalion soldier in Iraq, 2006]]
Along with providing for national defence, the NAF will also react immediately to threats to other allies and to international crises.

Latvia cooperates with [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]] in the infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadron [[BALTRON]] which are available for peacekeeping operations.

Currently, [[NATO]] is involved in the patrolling and protection of the Latvian air space as the Latvian military does not have the means to do so. For this goal a rotating force of four NATO [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]], which comes from different nations and switches at two or three month intervals, is based in [[Lithuania]] to cover all three [[Baltic states]] (see [[Baltic Air Policing]]).

===Current operations===

{|  style="border:1px solid black; background:#efe8ff; font-size:95%; float:left;"
|-
! Deployment
! Organization
! Operation 
! Personnel<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mil.lv/lv/aktualitates-un-macibas/starptautiskas-operacijas/pasreizejas-operacijas |title=Pašreizējās operācijas |website=www.mil.lv}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|Mali}} [[Mali]]
|[[EU]]
|[[EUTM Mali]]
|4
|-
|{{flagicon|Mali}} [[Mali]]
|[[UN]]
|[[MINUSMA]]
|1
|-
|{{flagicon|Kosovo}} [[Kosovo]]
|[[NATO]]
|[[KFOR RC-E]]
|133
|-
|{{flagicon|Somalia}} [[Somalia]]
|[[EU]]
|[[Operation Atalanta]]
|2
|-
|{{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq]]
|[[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve|CJTF]]
|[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]
|1
|}
{{Clear}}

== Modernization ==
After joining the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), Latvia has undertaken obligations to strengthen common defence within the scope of its capabilities. For this purpose, every NATO member state delegates its military formations — fast response, well-armed and well-equipped units capable to operate beyond the NATO's borders.

After joining NATO, the foundation of the Latvian defence system has shifted from total territorial defence to collective defence. Latvia has acquired small but highly professional troop units that have been fully integrated into NATO structures. NAF soldiers have participated in international operations since 1996. Specialized units (e.g. units of military medics, military police, unexploded ordnance neutralizers, military divers and [[Latvian Special Tasks Unit|special forces]]) have been established in order to facilitate and enhance NAF participation in international operations. Special attention has been paid to establishing a unit to deal with the identification and clearance of [[nuclear pollution]].

==List of military equipment==
{{Main article|List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces}}

<gallery class="center" widths="200" heights="120">
File:Latvian G36KV.JPG|[[Heckler & Koch G36]]
File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis vēro Nacionālo bruņoto spēku vienību militāro parādi 11.novembra krastmalā (8196545744).jpg|[[Spike (missile)|Spike ATGM]]
File:Patria_6x6_APC.jpg|[[Patria 6×6]]
File:18.novembra svinīgie pasākumi (49084582236).jpg|[[Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)|CVR(T)]]
File:Latvian_soldiers_training_on_Austrian_M109A5O.jpg|[[M109 howitzer]]
</gallery>

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=IISS |title=The Military Balance 2019|year=2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1857439885}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Military of Latvia}}
* [http://www.mil.lv/ National Armed Forces of Latvia Official Website]
* [https://www.klustikaravirs.lv/ Unified recruiment platform "klustikaravirs.lv"]
* [http://www.mod.gov.lv Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia]
* [http://www.nato.int/pfp/lv/latvia.htm Mission of Latvia to NATO]
* [http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Latvia Camopedia (a collection of Latvian camouflage patterns]
* [http://www.sargs.lv/ Sargs.lv (The official news site of the National Armed Forces)]
* Stefan Marx, "The Latvian Defence System", ''Jane's Intelligence Review'', December 1993, pp.&nbsp;557–559.

{{Latvia topics}}
{{Military of Latvia}}
{{Military of Europe}}
{{Military history of Europe}}
{{Militaries of European Union member states}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Military of Latvia| ]]
[[Category:Permanent Structured Cooperation]]
[[Category:Government agencies of Latvia]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in Latvia]]