Latvia Faces Sabotage Threats: Researcher Warns of Cooperation with Russian Services

Latvia faces significant threats beyond a direct military invasion, according to Valdis Kuzmins, a researcher at the National Defense Academy. Speaking on the program 'Spried ar Delfi,' Kuzmins cautioned that official statements from military and foreign policy leaders deeming a full-scale invasion unlikely should not lead to complacency.

Kuzmins specifically raised concerns about the potential for sabotage and the risk of individuals within Latvia collaborating with Russian intelligence services. This warning comes amidst heightened public anxiety, fueled by recent media reports concerning the visit of US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow.

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The fact that our military personnel and our National Armed Forces leaders and foreign policy leaders say that a military invasion is impossible does not mean that there are no threats.

While the purpose of Ratcliffe's visit was reportedly to dissuade Russian leadership from escalating conflict with NATO, particularly impacting Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Kuzmins's remarks underscore a persistent undercurrent of danger. The focus shifts from overt military aggression to more insidious forms of threat, emphasizing the need for vigilance against internal vulnerabilities and external interference.

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He commented on the growing public concern over news about the visit of US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, which media reported as an attempt to dissuade the Russian leadership from escalating the conflict with NATO, especially with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.