Rinkēvičs: No direct military threat from Russia, but public must be vigilant

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, after a meeting with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs on Wednesday, said that while no direct military threat from Russia is observed, the public must remain vigilant. He emphasized that NATO and EU member states regularly exchange analytical and intelligence information.

According to Rinkēvičs, hybrid operations cannot be ruled out, including one that has been ongoing on the Latvia-Belarus border since 2021. Various sabotage acts are also possible, so the public should pay attention to suspicious activities. The president confirmed that security agencies are working with allies and analyzing information, and many issues have already been prevented.

Rinkēvičs noted that Russia is stuck in Ukraine and unpredictable, prompting Eastern Flank countries to pay close attention to signals. Several Baltic and regional officials have recently stated that Russia might adventurously target a NATO eastern member.

Regarding readiness for provocations, the president said that state security institutions, as well as the interior and defense systems, constantly analyze the situation. Senior officials regularly receive information from agencies about cases with concrete results. The public is informed when possible, such as in cases of charges or detentions, but due to the nature of the work, this is not always possible.

Rinkēvičs admitted that it is impossible to predict everything and be fully prepared, as it is a “gray zone.” He stressed that information is periodically updated but not always confirmed, and the situation changes—issues relevant a few months ago lose relevance while new challenges emerge. The president highly praised the work of security agencies and called on the public to understand that not all information can be disclosed immediately.

He added that security is an ever-changing process and it is impossible to catch everything 100%, but the state is acting adequately. Rinkēvičs mentioned that on Wednesday, the National Security Council (NSC) will hear information on election security, technological solutions, and actions if polling stations cannot conduct voting due to air raid alerts or other reasons. The meeting will also address cybersecurity in light of the recent incident at “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM).