The State Border Guard needs increased support from the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), Border Guard Chief Guntis Pujāts said in an interview with Latvian Radio.
“I wouldn’t say the army isn’t supporting us—they are,” Pujāts said, while stressing that the forms of cooperation should be reviewed and military assistance intensified.
He described the challenges along Latvia’s external border as significant, noting that current pressure is concentrated entirely on the Latvia–Belarus border.
Pujāts said the State Police is already providing substantial support to border guards, but added that greater military involvement is needed, including additional patrols and units to intercept and prevent illegal border crossings.
Asked why Latvia is currently facing such intense illegal migration pressure, Pujāts said several factors are contributing.
These include Latvia’s strong support for Ukraine, the country’s ban on Russian-language broadcasting by public media, Russian narratives claiming Latvian territory is being used for Ukrainian attacks against Russia, and the approaching parliamentary elections.
He noted that political decisions and major political events in Latvia have previously coincided with increased attempts to instrumentalise illegal migration, and believes the upcoming elections are likely playing a role again.
According to Pujāts, the aim is to create public dissatisfaction with the current parliament and government, increase social tensions, deepen divisions within society, and help bring politicians favourable to hostile interests into the next Saeima.
As previously reported, the Latvian government has extended the enhanced border security regime along the Belarusian border until 31 December this year due to the continued increase in illegal migration orchestrated from Belarus.
Last year, the State Border Guard prevented 12,046 attempts to illegally cross the Belarus–Latvia border, while 31 migrants were admitted to Latvia on humanitarian grounds. In 2024, authorities prevented 5,388 illegal border crossings and admitted 26 people for humanitarian reasons.
So far this year, 7,634 people have already been prevented from crossing the border illegally.
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