From 2 September to 8 October Comprehensive National Defence Exercise Namejs 2026 Will Take Place Across Latvia

From 2 September to 8 October, the comprehensive national defence exercise Namejs 2026, organised by the Latvian National Armed Forces, will take place across Latvia.

The comprehensive national defence exercise Namejs 2026 will involve professional soldiers and National Guard personnel from all units of the Latvian National Armed Forces, including State Defence Service soldiers, reserve soldiers and personnel from Allied armed forces. During the exercise, cooperation between the Latvian National Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilian institutions will be further enhanced. Cooperation will also continue with the Crisis Management Centre, the State Chancellery, line ministries and their subordinate institutions, state security institutions, a number of municipalities and private-sector entities to provide the support required for national defence needs, thereby strengthening Latvia’s comprehensive national defence system.

During Namejs 2026, the integration of Latvian National Armed Forces and Allied capabilities will continue, further enhancing interoperability between units and their ability to respond in a coordinated manner to contemporary security challenges. Lessons identified from Ukraine and experience gained from contemporary armed conflicts are also being incorporated into the planning and execution of the exercise. Particular emphasis will therefore be placed on the employment of unmanned systems and the development of counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) capabilities. In Latvia’s eastern regions, including border areas, unmanned aircraft operations will be conducted at an increased tempo, with their employment practised across a range of tasks. At the same time, capabilities to detect, identify and neutralise adversary unmanned systems will be further developed. The exercise will also continue to develop and integrate capabilities across all services in joint operations, strengthening Latvia’s defence capabilities in the land, maritime, air, cyber and information domains.

Alongside the execution of exercise objectives, Namejs 2026 will also serve as a platform for the practical testing of capabilities and solutions developed as part of the transformation of the Latvian National Armed Forces. Exercises are an essential component of this transformation, providing an environment in which new capabilities, procedures and technologies can be introduced, integrated and tested. During Namejs 2026, solutions developed as part of the transformation process will be tested in operational scenarios that are as realistic as possible, allowing their effectiveness and practical applicability to be assessed. The results of the exercise will provide feedback to inform further capability development and implementation of the transformation process.

Approximately 12,000 Latvian and Allied military personnel and National Guard personnel will participate in the exercise.

The exercise is being organised in cooperation with NATO Multinational Division North (MND-N) Headquarters. Military personnel from Canada, the United States, Estonia, Lithuania and other Allied nations will participate. Units assigned to Multinational Division North, as well as the NATO Force Integration Unit Latvia (NFIU Latvia), will also be involved in the exercise.

During Namejs 2026, the Latvian National Armed Forces will work closely with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to ensure timely situational awareness, conduct deterrence activities and strengthen the collective response capability in the Baltic region. This cooperation demonstrates the unity of JEF Participant Nations and their readiness to respond rapidly in the event of a threat, while further enhancing interoperability and operational procedures.

In September and October, the Latvian National Armed Forces will conduct mobilisation exercises as part of the comprehensive national defence exercise Namejs 2026. The purpose of the mobilisation exercises is to test and improve the integration of National Guard personnel and reserve soldiers into the Latvian National Armed Forces’ combat structure, as well as to enhance procedures for the mobilisation and sustainment of resources. The exercise will test procedures for notifying National Guard personnel and reserve soldiers, as well as the ability to provide personnel with equipment and weapons at short notice. The mobilisation of materiel and other resources, and their employment in support of national defence tasks, will also be practised. In addition, the deployment of mobilised personnel away from their units’ permanent locations and their employment in a range of tasks will be exercised.

The participation of civilian-sector institutions in Namejs 2026 will be coordinated by the Crisis Management Centre, which will establish thematic groups covering areas such as communications, energy, transport and food supply. Through mutual coordination, these groups will provide the support required for national defence needs while ensuring continuity of essential sectoral functions.

In response to the evolving security environment, Latvia’s national defence system must be comprehensive and based on the readiness of society as a whole and state institutions to manage crises, as well as on resilience against external influence. The comprehensive national defence system encompasses not only public administration and defence institutions, but also the private sector, businesses, non-governmental organisations and the population. Its purpose is to facilitate the planning and coordination of nationally critical functions and to foster cooperation among state institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and society, thereby strengthening Latvia’s resilience in times of crisis.

Exercise Namejs is a pre-planned exercise and has been conducted across Latvia since 2014. Regular military exercises are essential for maintaining and strengthening the combat capabilities of the Latvian National Armed Forces, which must be maintained at a consistently high level. The Armed Forces must remain ready at all times to respond to potential threats in a timely and effective manner and to safeguard Latvia’s security. At the same time, strengthening cooperation with state and municipal authorities, private-sector entities and Allies contributes to a stronger comprehensive national defence system in Latvia.

Information for the Public

Military training activities will take place intensively across Latvia during the autumn period. Latvian and Allied military personnel and military vehicles will move along national and regional roads. As part of exercise activities, military aircraft will operate in Latvian airspace, including at low altitude, and live-fire training will take place at military training areas.

Residents are encouraged to follow the latest information about the exercise through the Latvian National Armed Forces’ social media channels, the National Armed Forces’ official website and the websites of the relevant municipalities.

During the exercise, an information hotline will be available at +371 28637064.

Residents who observe suspicious activities are encouraged to contact the State Security Service via its 24-hour telephone number +371 67208964 or by email at info@vdd.gov.lv. 

Suspicious activities in the vicinity of the state border should be reported to the State Border Guard via its 24-hour telephone numbers +371 67075616 and +371 67075718.

Information Analysis and Operations Department
Communications Division
National Armed Forces
Joint Headquarters
Email: prese@mil.lv 
Phone: 25710446