The Ministry of Defense of Latvia is considering the possibility of placing anti-tank mines and other engineering obstacles on the eastern border as part of an updated defense concept.

Ināra Mūrniece, the country’s Minister of Defense, announced this.

The concept focuses on engineering the external border by applying physical and technological solutions with regard to the potential threat from neighboring countries.

In the east, Latvia shares a 137-kilometer-long land border with Russia’s Pskov region and a 172-kilometer-long border with Belarus.

Strengthening of the border

The Latvian Armed Forces, in cooperation with the State Border Guard and state security agencies, should develop and execute plans and mechanisms of cooperation for hybrid and conventional threat scenarios.

Mūrniece noted that the development of border infrastructure is the task of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but the Ministry of Defense also has its own ideas for speeding up this process.

A working group led by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was set up to develop a project to strengthen the border.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for constructing the fence, and installing sensors and cables, and this should be done as soon as possible. But the border must also be equipped from a military standpoint because we see how quickly the situation in Belarus is developing,” the Minister emphasized.

The Minister emphasized that the border should be strengthened militarily. It is necessary to conduct a study of practical aspects, for example, a terrain survey, to establish what measures to restrict enemy equipment’s mobility would be suitable in a particular section of the border. This primarily regards anti-tank obstacles and metal/concrete structures. The possibility of placing anti-tank mines is also being considered.

The Defense Ministry is working to assist the Interior Ministry in speeding up the installation of the fence.

Actual strengthening of NATO’s borders

Mūrniece noted that the border arrangement is being jointly developed with the rest of the Baltic states, as the eastern border should be strengthened on the territory of the Baltic states and Poland.

“My vision and political position is that the border should be completed by the end of this year. At the same time, anti-mobile measures should be implemented throughout the Baltic region. Cooperation with Estonia is very close, and I hope that Lithuania will also join. Poland has always been active,” the Minister noted.