9 Apr 2016 21:44

Latvia's Defense Minister urges to station rapid deployment forces unit near Russian border

RIGA. April 9 (Interfax/BNS) - The Latvian national armed forces require a dramatic military personnel increase, and a new permanent unit deployed in the Russia-neighboring region of Latgale, Latvian Minister of Defense Raimonds Bergmanis said, when speaking at the congress of the Latvian Green Party.

Today, consolidating the Latvian armed forces' war-making capacity is the top priority in the area of defense, Bergmanis said. In addition to this, it is necessary to increase the number of military personnel and create a military unit to be permanently stationed in Latgale in order to ensure a rapid response, he said.

As a country that receives allied forces, Latvia also should improve its infrastructure, Bergmanis said.