Latvia’s responsible agencies are prepared to immediately close the country’s eastern border if necessary, officials confirmed to the Saeima National Security Committee on Monday.
However, during the committee meeting it was concluded that there is currently no need to close the border, the Saeima Press Service told the LETA news agency.
The committee reviewed a motion submitted by the National Alliance (NA) proposing to close Latvia’s border with Russia and Belarus during the ongoing Zapad military exercises. After hearing information from the relevant agencies, the committee decided not to move the proposal forward to the Saeima for further consideration.
The committee noted that the matter has also been discussed by the National Security Council (NDP),
which has already tasked the Cabinet of Ministers, together with the responsible services, to assess possible restrictions on crossing Latvia’s eastern border.
It agreed with the NDP’s decision and stressed that Latvia’s actions regarding eastern border security must be decisive and coordinated with its closest allies — Lithuania and Estonia.
The security situation on the eastern border is one of the committee’s priorities, and it will continue to closely monitor developments as part of its parliamentary oversight, the Saeima Press Service added.
As reported, the Saeima last week referred the NA’s border-closure proposal to the National Security Committee. Before the vote, “New Unity” faction leader Edmunds Jurēvics emphasized that the National Armed Forces (NBS) are safeguarding national security and called on others to trust the NBS as well.