| Latvian National Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki (Latvian) | |
 Emblem of the Latvian National Armed Forces | |
| Motto | Gods kalpot Latvijai! (English: "It is an honor to serve Latvia!") |
| Founded | 10 July 1919; 106 years ago (1919-07-10) |
| Current form | 23 August 1991; 34 years ago (1991-08-23) |
| Service branches | |
| Headquarters | Riga,Latvia |
| Website | mil |
| Leadership | |
| President | Edgars Rinkēvičs |
| Prime Minister | Evika Siliņa |
| Minister of Defence | Andris Sprūds |
| Commander of the Joint Headquarters | Major GeneralKaspars Pudāns[1] |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Conscription | Yes[2] |
| Active personnel | 17,345[3] |
| Reserve personnel | 38,000[4] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | €1.559 billion(2025)[5] |
| Percent of GDP | 3.45%(2025)[5] |
| Related articles | |
| History | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Latvia |
TheLatvian National Armed Forces (Latvian:Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki;NBS), are thearmed forces ofLatvia. 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 ofLand Forces,Naval Forces,Air Force andNational Guard. Its main tasks are to protect the territory of the State; participate in international military operations; and to prevent threats to national security.[6]
The mission of the National Armed Forces (NBS) is to defend thesovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation and to defend its population against foreign or domestic armed aggression. In order to implement these tasks, the NBS provide for the defence of the nation, its air space and national territorial waters, participate in large scalecrisis response operations, perform emergencyrescue operations, and participate in internationalpeacekeeping operations.
The main mission of the National Armed Forces is to:
The Latvian armed forces were first formed soon after the new state wasproclaimed in November 1918 afterWorld War I, with the official founding of theLatvian Armed Forces [lv] (Latvian:Latvijas Bruņotie spēki) on 10 July 1919, when theNorth Latvian [lv] andSouth Latvian Brigade [lv], which were loyal to theLatvian Provisional Government, were merged. Seasoned generalDāvids Sīmansons was appointed as the first Commander-in-Chief. At the end of theLatvian War of Independence, the Latvian Army consisted of 69,232 men.
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 31,4kg of equipment in the winter months, and around 29,1 kg in the summer. The main service rifle was the BritishPattern 1914 Enfield, and the amount of standard issue ammunition for an infantry soldier was 45 rounds of.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,allied donations and subsequent official state purchases. Light machine guns included the FrenchChauchat, DanishMadsen, and BritishLewis gun (which became the main light machine gun of the Latvian Army). The main heavy machine gun was the BritishVickers machine gun in the .303 (7,7mm) caliber, although the army also kept RussianPM 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 ofWorld 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 BritishOrdnance QF 18-pounder field gun and BritishQF 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 mmCannone da 47/32 anti-tank cannons, which were reasonably effective against early World War II tanks. For infantry mortars, a number of81mm mortars were acquired fromFinland 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 M1916/18Stahlhelms orAdrian helmets.[7][8]
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 sixarmoured trains, aCarden Loyd tankette, sevenarmoured cars and 24 tanks of various designs and combat abilities. In terms of air power, at the start of World War II theLatvian Air Force had around 30 fighter planes and 24scout planes, of which only some were the relatively modernGloster 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 asEstonia,Lithuania and Finland.[9] The Armed Forces were also supported by the volunteerAizsargi Organization.
However, the most crucial problem and flaw for both the Latvian military and other militaries of theBaltic 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 bothNazi Germany and theSoviet 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.[9]
After theSoviet 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 thePeople's Army of Latvia (Latvian:Latvijas Tautas armija) and in September–November 1940 – theRed Army's24th Territorial Rifle Corps. The corps comprised the181st and183rd 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 toLitene 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 toGulag camps. After theGerman 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 theRussian SFSR, only about 3,000 Latvian soldiers remained.[10] During and after World War II, many former veterans were a part of the fighters of theanti-Soviet National Partisan resistance movement opposing the continued Soviet occupation.
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The origin of the current Latvian armed forces can be traced to the establishment of the Latvian National Guard orZemessardze on 23 August 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 theBaltic Military District. From the beginning, the reconstituted defense forces were modeled according to NATO standards with assistance from theUnited States, theUnited Kingdom,Sweden etc.
A notable moment in the history of the armed forces is the accession to theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization on 29 March 2004, after Latvia received aMembership Action Plan in 1999 and, ultimately, an invite was extended to it and six other countries during the2002 Prague summit.[11] Previously, Latvia co-founded theNorth Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 and joined thePartnership for Peace program in 1994.[12]
Since the 1990s, personnel of the NBS has been deployed to a number of peacekeeping, training and support missions – the NATO 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 (NTM-I) from 2005 to 2006, the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from 2003 to 2015, theResolute Support Mission from 2015 to 2021 and others.[12][13]
In 2007, Latvia abolished conscription, switching to a professional, volunteer-based service model.[14] However, after the start of theRusso-Ukrainian War in 2014, calls for reintroducing mandatory military service reappeared, with thefull invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 being a decisive boost to this momentum, despite initial skepticism from the top leadership in the NBS and the Ministry of Defence.[15] In July 2022, Defence MinisterArtis Pabriks announced a plan for the re-introduction of military service – officially called the National Defense Service (Latvian: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.[16] TheGovernment of Latvia supported the plan in September, with the next required step being the approval of theSaeima. 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.[17]
The National Armed Forces consist of:
NBS Joint Headquarters
Land Forces
Naval Forces
Air Force
National Guard
Special Operations Command
Military Police
NBS Staff Battalion
Training and Doctrine Command
Support CommandTheSecurity Service of the Parliament and State President was a part of the National Armed Forces until its merger with the Military Police in 2009.
Latvian National Armed Forces consist of the Regular Force, National Guard and Reserve. On 1 January 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.[6] 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.[18][19]
As of July 2025, NBS continues to expand its personnel.[20]
On 5 April 2023, Latvia decided to re-introduce compulsory national defense service in response to the ongoingRussian invasion in Ukraine.[21] Conscripted personnel will have to serve in the Latvian National Armed Forces for at least 11 months.[22] The law foresees two types of service: military and alternative (civil service). Males born after 1 January 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.[23][21] In the first two rounds of conscription, Latvian military had enough volunteers and didn't need to resort to random selection.[24] On 27 August 2024, Latvian defense ministerAndris Sprūds initiated the discussion on conscription of women by 2028.[25]
Along with providing for national defence, the NBS will also react immediately to threats to other allies and to international crises.
Latvia cooperates withEstonia andLithuania in the infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadronBALTRON 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 NATOfighters, which comes from different nations and switches at two or three month intervals, is based inLithuania to cover all threeBaltic states (seeBaltic Air Policing).
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia anf Lithuania have decided to construct aBaltic Defence Line on their eastern border with Russia and Belarus.
Information as of December 2024.[26]
| Deployment Country | Organization | Operation | Personnel |
|---|---|---|---|
 Latvia | EU | EUMAM UA | |
 Saudi Arabia | EU | EUNAVFOR Aspides | |
 Italy | EU | EUNAVFOR MED IRINI | |
 Israel | UN | UNTSO | |
 Lebanon | UN | UNIFIL | |
 Kosovo | NATO | KFOR | |
 Iraq | NATO | NATO Mission Iraq NMI | |
| Iraq | CJTF | Operation Inherent Resolve |
After joining theNorth 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. NBS soldiers have participated in international operations since 1996. Specialized units (e.g. units of military medics, military police, unexploded ordnance neutralizers, military divers andspecial forces) have been established in order to facilitate and enhance NBS participation in international operations. Special attention has been paid to establishing a unit to deal with the identification and clearance ofnuclear pollution.
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Latvia's military industry is quite small, with Military Balance 2025 fromIISS describing it as: "Latvia has a nichedefence-industrial capability".[27]
Latvia has developed its military industrial capabilities since theRussian invasion of Ukraine. Latvia has established a National Defence Corporation for military industrial purposes.[28] Latvia has one small-arms ammunition maker (Ammunity[29]) and has made an agreement withRheinmetall about developing a155 mm artillery ammunition plant.[30] Latvia also has intended to start artillery charge (gunpowder) production.[31][32] Latvia also has partnered withPatria in both producing armored fighting vehicles (Patria 6x6, assembly ofASCOD 2) in Latvia and in maintaining military vehicles in Latvia.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39] Latvia has also launched an indigenous production of military ATVs (VR FOX).[40] Latvia has also developed drone and defence electronics industry.[41][42][43][44] A Latvian company has developed a military electric scooter.[45]
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