Latvia Poised to Summon Conscripts as Russian Menace Grows

Latvia abolished conscription in 2006, after a unanimous vote in parliament. The country had recently joined both NATO and the European Union (EU), and the collective defense clause of NATO’s founding treaty was particularly reassuring. The National Armed Forces were repurposed from territorial defense to serve primarily in international missions and operations, most notably in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

At the same time, Russia, the only credible military threat, appeared to be on fragile, but cooperative, terms with the West. The Kremlin had positioned itself as a partner in the so-called Global War on Terror, and Vladimir Putin had not yet delivered his belligerent 2007 Munich speech. It wasn’t until 2008 that Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s stand-in as president, ordered the war in Georgia.

Apart from the external context, domestic opinion in Latvia was opposed to compulsory service. It had low prestige and suffered from association with the Soviet system, which was notable for the violence inflicted on conscripts. Many young people saw no value in the draft and, where possible, preferred to dodge it.

Russia’s 2014 war against Ukraine rang loud alarm bells about the state of Latvia’s defenses. The armed forces then consisted of only 4,600 soldiers, backed by defense spending of just €221m ($243m), or 0.94 % of GDP. However, the Latvian defense establishment remained committed to a voluntary system, arguing that the financial and logistical burden of conscription would be disproportionate, and the benefit minimal.

While neighboring Lithuania decided to reinstate conscription in 2015, and Estonia never abolished it, Latvia chose no change. Classes on national defense were introduced in schools, along with summer camps for practical skills.

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