National Armed Forces to hold exercises in Valmiera and surrounding area

On September 4, Latvia's National Armed Forces (NBS) will hold a comprehensive national defense exercise called "Namejs 2026" in Valmiera and the surrounding area.

As part of the exercise, a Crisis Headquarters will be set up within the Valmiera Municipality administration, operating according to a scenario developed by the 2nd Vidzeme Brigade of the National Guard (Zemessardze).

Purpose of the exercise

The exercise will involve resolving complex problem situations, testing the municipality's ability to maintain critical functions during a crisis. This includes ensuring residents' basic needs are met and providing support to the armed forces. The drill will allow practical evaluation of how to respond when several threats arise simultaneously, how to make operational decisions, how to cooperate with state and emergency services, and how to maintain continuous communication with residents.

Valmiera Municipality Council Chairman Jānis Baiks said the exercise will assess the municipality's ability to maintain essential functions, inform residents, and ensure the readiness of its material and technical resources. He noted that a recent storm in Latvia clearly revealed areas still requiring improvement, and that this experience is being used to prepare better for future crises.

Importance of cooperation

Such joint exercises are considered an essential part of municipal civil protection and crisis management preparedness, as they allow theoretical knowledge to be tested in practice and help identify potential shortcomings. They also strengthen cooperation between the municipality and partner institutions, enabling a fast and coordinated response when threats occur. The experience gained will be used to further improve the municipality's readiness for various risks and to ensure public safety.