On the eastern border there are concrete blocks and bastions. And this is just the beginning

“The first road has also been dug, that is, work is already underway,” the minister emphasized in an interview.

Applications for the introduction of border security measures have been announced. According to Sproods, 66 companies applied to participate in the competition, which is a significant number. The ministry is currently in the process of negotiations and hopes to be able to move forward in the near future by issuing specific instructions and installing more and more barriers at border control points.

“The goals are systemic, so we will move forward in the next five years. (..) There are artificial obstacles, strongholds, sensors, mines, preparation of infrastructure for a possible breakthrough, etc., etc. We want to involve local infrastructure in these activities, where strongholds and artificial obstacles have good potential,” says Spruds.

At the same time, in the defense sector there are also some kind of “holes”, that is, areas of production in which domestic companies do not work. Therefore, the government will need to motivate local companies so that changes can be seen in this regard as well. “There is potential for improvement here for all of us – both entrepreneurs and the defense industry,” says the minister.

In addition to physically strengthening the border, the National Armed Forces (NAF) announced this week that it plans to create seven new reserve battalions in the coming years. In an interview, Spruds claims that there are currently regarding 20 thousand soldiers serving in the Latvian army, but the goal is to reach 61 thousand during a possible war, so it is necessary to actively work to create reserve units.