The Interior Ministry plans a year-long measure to keep eastern checkpoints on high alert. The proposal reflects concerns about migration and hybrid threats.
The Latvian Ministry of the Interior will propose to the government to extend the operation of the reinforced eastern border protection regime through December 31 this year.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the eastern border sections continue to pose elevated security risks: most notably, frequent attempts to cross the border illegally, with the Latvia-Belarus direction experiencing the greatest migratory pressure.
Secondly, the probability of hybrid threats and provocative actions persists, as do risks of smuggling and other forms of cross-border crime.
Thirdly, there is a need to ensure the continuous readiness of the border protection services.
To prevent Latvia’s border from being crossed at non-designated locations and to stop attempts at illegal entry into the country, the Ministry of the Interior believes it is necessary to extend border protection in reinforced mode. At present, the reinforced regime is in effect until June 30.
According to the ministry, this year 6,362 cases of illegal border crossing have already been prevented.
Last year Latvia’s State Border Guard prevented attempts to illegally cross the Belarus-Latvian border by more than 12,046 individuals.
Context and Possible Consequences
The initiative is tied to supporting control over migration flows and preventing threats in the region. The government’s decision to extend the reinforced border protection regime will impact the operational capabilities of the border guard service and its interaction with other security structures.
If this step is approved, the eastern border protection will remain in reinforced mode until the end of the year, which may affect the pace of responses and the actual situation at the border. Such a decision underscores the state’s priorities regarding the stability of the migration context in the region.