Large-scale military exercise “Namejs 2026” to begin across Latvia in September

From September 2 to October 8, Latvia will conduct its annual national defense exercise “Namejs 2026,” involving roughly 12,000 soldiers and Home Guard (Zemessardze) members from Latvia and allied nations. Participants include units of the National Armed Forces, Home Guard members, national defense service troops and reservists, as well as allies from Canada, the United States, Estonia, Lithuania and other NATO member states.

The exercise's main goal is to test how effectively Latvian and allied forces can act and cooperate during a crisis or military threat. This year places special emphasis on drones and counter-drone defense, drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine — troops will train both to operate unmanned aerial vehicles for various tasks and to detect and neutralize enemy drones. As a result, increased drone activity is expected in Latvia's eastern regions and border areas.

Testing mobilization

In September and October, mobilization drills will also take place, testing how quickly Home Guard members and reservists can be notified and supplied with equipment and weapons. The exercise will also test the mobilization of material and technical resources and the deployment of units outside their usual locations.

The drills will involve the Crisis Management Center, government ministries, security institutions, municipalities and businesses, testing cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, food supply and communications to ensure the state's key functions can continue during a crisis.

What residents should expect

During the exercise, columns of military vehicles will move along main and regional roads, which may cause temporary traffic slowdowns in some areas. Military aircraft will fly through Latvian airspace, sometimes at low altitude, while military drones will be more frequently seen in eastern regions and border areas. Sounds of gunfire and explosions may be heard near training ranges due to planned live-fire exercises.

Residents are urged not to be concerned by this activity, as it is part of the planned exercise. Updates on “Namejs 2026” will be available through official channels of the National Armed Forces and local municipalities. The “Namejs” exercises have been held regularly in Latvia since 2014, each time testing both the armed forces' combat readiness and the broader ability of the state and society to respond to a crisis.