Not long after Latvia regained its independence, the formation of its security system was also started, and cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established. In response to the new security environment and geopolitical situation, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) was established on 20 December, 1991, for NATO cooperation with potential partners. Latvia also participated in the foundation process of the NACC, thus becoming a member state of this forum.

In the following years, cooperation between Latvia and NATO has become more active. In 1994, Latvia joined the programme established the same year, “Partnership for Peace”, which gives participants the opportunity to receive consultations, support and practical help from NATO civil and military specialists for the development of the defence system. In 1995, within the programme “Partnership for Peace”, Latvia also participated in the NATO Planning and Review Process, which later increased the compatibility of the Latvian Armed Forces for participation in international operations and conformity to NATO standards.

From 23 to 25 April 1999, at the NATO Summit in Washington, United States, NATO offered Latvia and the other eight candidate countries[1] to develop the annual Membership Action Plan (MAP) for participation in NATO, which would reflect the preparation process and measures taken for participation in NATO, as well as would let the MAP countries receive additional consultations, support and practical help from NATO member countries. The Membership Action Plan explains how these preconditions are met, and defines the further tasks in the political, economic, military and legislation fields. It incorporates the progress made during the previous year, the planned actions for the following year and outlines medium term and long-term planning perspectives.

On 21 November 2002, in the NATO member countries Summit in Prague, Czech Republic, Latvia and the other six candidate countries were invited to join NATO. Thus the final stage began before Latvia became a full NATO member. On 29 March 2004, Latvia’s efforts were rewarded and Latvia was admitted to the collective security organisation. Since then, national defence is no longer a solely national task. Latvia can now rely on the support of other Alliance member countries. However, in becoming part of the most powerful military alliance in the world, Latvia is imposed with the duty to provide its investment in the strengthening of NATO.

The primary interests of Latvia in NATO are related to the Alliance and its further effectiveness and capability to defend its member countries, as well as deal with modern threats. The end of the Cold War significantly changed the balance of power in the international system, as well as the transatlantic region security challenges. The adjustment of the armed forces to the new security environment was begun along with the decreasing need for large-scale, territorial defence. Today, the main threat to the security of the Alliance is considered to be international terrorism, the prevalence of weapons of mass destruction, as well as formation of crisis situations in different regions of the world.

But the events of August 2008 in Georgia demonstrated new tendencies in the European security environment. As a result at the NATO Summit in Strasburg/Kehl, an agreement was made to increase and clearly demonstrate NATO’s ability to confront the upcoming challenges in the territory of NATO and its periphery. To achieve this, NATO will provide adequate planning, education and training.

During the former transformation process of NATO, in which the allied forces are applied to respond to all types of threats, NATO member countries have set the development of the NATO Response Force as one of the main tasks that will be an effective measure for the provision of collective defence as well as for the fight with current security challenges. Latvia is also involved in the transformation process of NATO, participating in the enforcement of NATO abilities and taking part in the international operations and security strengthening activities implemented by the Alliance.

The integration process into NATO and participation in it has significantly affected the development of the Latvian National Armed Forces and has aided in developing armed forces that correspond to modern security requirements. Latvia has refused mandatory military service, becoming the only Baltic state with a professional army. Along with the transition to professional armed forces, Latvia has shifted from the support of large territorial units to the development of the armed forces, which makes involvement in the collective security as well as crisis prevention activities possible.

With the transformation of the international security environment, one of the main NATO tasks during times of peace has become the execution of international operations for the stabilisation of those regions that could become a potential threat to the security of the Allies. Since 1996, when the soldiers of Latvia began their first participation in the NATO-led operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia has participated in all NATO-led operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan[2]. Currently, Latvia is taking part in the NATO-led international operation in Afghanistan, which has become the main operation of NATO and Latvia. Latvia has also now increased the number of its military contingent in Afghanistan and is taking part in the reconstruction and stabilisation process of Afghanistan with civilian experts. Participation in the international operations allows the compatibility with the forces of other member states to be checked in practice, to receive training and to acquire practical experience in the operation, which is necessary for professional troops. At the same time, practical participation of Latvia in NATO-led operations enables increased the effectiveness of the operations and Latvia’s political influence in the NATO decision making process.

However, for us to be able to adequately host the NATO forces as it was during the NATO Riga Summit, the National Armed Forces must be prepared. To receive the necessary assistance of foreign countries in the event of national threats or nature disasters, Latvia is continuing to form the host nation support system for foreign armed forces and develops the skills necessary for this purpose. Such cooperation between Latvia and NATO, as well as the combination of abilities, is a solid foundation for the security and defence of our country.

The air space patrol of Latvia and other Baltic States has been one of the first practical and visible factors that increased our security after joining NATO. The air patrol operation has also been direct evidence of the willingness of other NATO member countries to provide their support, as application for this operation is voluntary. Patrolling in rotational order is provided by NATO member countries that use the aircraft base airfield in Siaulia, Lithuania. Gradually, the responsibility for the implementation of the operation is increasingly assumed by the Baltic States themselves, providing increasing host nation support abilities. For this purpose, Latvia has already begun the construction of its Air Operation Centre and the development of the Lielvārde military airfield infrastructure.

NATO membership has provided Latvia the opportunity to participate in NATO’s common projects, wherein countries join to provide various abilities, thus achieving radical implementation of financial and human resources.

Latvia has also become fully involved in the NATO decision making and consulting process that provides the representation of Latvia’s interests in NATO structures, as well as participation in the decision making process in NATO Committees and Agencies. To ensure that Latvia’s interests are fully met, representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Latvian National Armed Forces and other institutions are employed in NATO.

While preparing for NATO membership, Latvia accumulated significant experience in the implementation of defence reforms and democratic control over its armed forces, which is now proving to be useful to other countries. Together with other Alliance member countries, Latvia is continuing to develop cooperation with NATO partners. Latvia is interested in capable member countries and is ready to provide its investment, providing support and sharing experience in the security defence reforms and strengthening the defence system. Since 2004, Latvia has developed cooperation in the experience delivery process with Ukraine, Moldova, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and the Balkans.

Information updated 30 August 2009.