On Tuesday, April 23, the Cabinet of Ministers
approved amendments to the Law on Military Service. They permit the
admission of foreigners into the National Armed Forces in the event of exceptional mobilization or the declaration of martial law in the country. Several other relevant amendments to the law are also being planned.
“Latvia is preparing for various military threat scenarios, learning from Ukraine’s experience. The aim of this initiative is to
organize the regulatory base so that Latvia, in the event of a state of emergency or martial law, can promptly accept volunteer foreigners into service in addition to the NATO forces that are already with us. This initiative would
strengthen our defense combat capabilities, opening up a wider opportunity for motivated citizens of other countries to fight for our country,” explained Defense Minister Andris Sprūds.
Foreign citizens who wish to serve in the National Armed Forces during an emergency will be
required to reside legally within Latvia’s territory. They must also have
proficiency in the national language or at least one of NATO’s official languages. The amendments include a list of countries whose citizens will be eligible to serve in the NBS.
In the event of general or partial mobilization, citizens of the
European Union (EU), the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA), or the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as citizens of
Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and Ukraine, will have the opportunity to voluntarily apply for military service in the National Armed Forces.
In the future, the Ministry of Defense will determine the exact terms of the contracts that such volunteers will be offered. For these changes to become law, they will need to undergo the usual
process of Saeima debate and parliamentary votes, so they are still some way from becoming a reality.
As widely reported by international media,
hundreds of foreign volunteers have served with distinction in Ukraine’s International Legion, aiding the country in its defense against Russian aggression.
