The Latvian foreign minister suggested in an interview with The Telegraph that Britain and other NATO allies might want to think about implementing military conscription. This idea comes in light of the perceived threat from Russia. Latvia itself reinstated compulsory military service recently, citing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as the reason. The goal is to bolster its “active and ready reserve.” Under the new regulations, all male Latvian citizens between 18 and 27 years old, including those residing outside Latvia, are required to serve for one year.
When asked whether the UK and other countries should follow suit, Krisjanis Karins said: “We would strongly recommend this. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defense involving all parts of civil society.”
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The Latvian diplomat suggested that London should increase its defense spending to 3% of gross domestic product, calling it a necessary step. He also proposed a “total defense” model for NATO countries, where a large number of citizen-soldiers could be quickly mobilized if needed. Latvia has adopted aspects of Finland’s conscription system, which the minister praised as a potential model for others. Finland maintains a small regular army but has a sizable and well-trained wartime reserve, allowing them to mobilize 250,000 trained military personnel easily.
In January, UK Chief of the General Staff Patrick Sanders advocated for training civilians for potential deployment in case of a direct conflict with Russia. However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak clarified that there are no plans for conscription. As of late 2023, Britain’s armed forces had 184,865 active-duty personnel, marking the lowest count since the Napoleonic wars. The army’s numbers have decreased from over 100,000 in 2010 to 75,983 by the end of last year.
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Since Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania, has been at the forefront of the West’s tensions with Moscow. Latvia, a former Soviet republic with a 284-kilometer border with Russia, became a member of the EU and NATO in 2004. The country abolished conscription in 2006. Latvian armed forces have participated in US-led international missions, such as those in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
In conclusion, the Latvian foreign minister’s suggestion of implementing military conscription for NATO allies, including Britain, reflects growing concerns over Russia’s perceived threat. Latvia’s reinstatement of compulsory military service and calls for increased defense spending underscore the evolving security dynamics in the region.