Security tops agenda at Riga Conference amid fears of Russian threat

euronews (in English)

Latvia is ramping up its defence measures in response to a potential Russian invasion, with security taking centre stage at this year’s Riga Conference.

Transcript

00:00Almost 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Latvia is on edge.

00:08The Baltic state and its almost 2 million people share a 300-kilometre border with Russia.

00:14So security and self-defence have become the number one issue for the country

00:19and the main talking point at this year's Riga conference.

00:23What they are trying as well to do is split us, split us societally, split us in between politicians.

00:29So this I do think is the biggest danger for all of us.

00:33I believe Russia at the moment is in an extremely weak situation.

00:38So for us, if we would understand how big and strong we are, they have zero chances.

00:45The government reintroduced military service last year.

00:48A lottery now decides which men from 18 to 27 have to sign up for 11 months.

00:55The aim? Have 4,000 trained soldiers by 2028.

01:00So it is a great part of integrating naturally security-related questions within society.

01:08And there is no dividing line between society and military. We are the same family.

01:15Here in the capital of Riga, you can feel just how despised the Russian president is.

01:21This vile picture of Vladimir Putin is hanging on a popular museum

01:25and it is just a stone's throw from the Russian embassy.

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