Latvia’s Conscription: Two Years On, Support Declines

⁢ Updated June 28, 2025

Latvia’s renewed conscription system, the National Defense Service, marked its second anniversary July 1, 2025. The program, requiring ⁤11 months of service, has progressed⁣ smoothly, though slowly, according to Maris Andžāns, director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga.‍ He noted potential ⁣challenges ahead due to increasing conscription numbers and decreasing public support.

Latvia abolished conscription in 2007 after joining NATO. The focus shifted to ⁢international missions. However,russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014 reignited the debate. In 2017,the ‍Latvian Defence⁣ Ministry argued ‍that reinstating conscription would weaken the professional service and national Guard,serving Russia’s interests. Public opinion was divided, with conscription associated with the Soviet system. The volunteer National Guard and Youth ⁤Guard, along with National ‍Defence Education ⁣in schools, were ⁣favored.

By early 2022, the National Armed‍ Forces had over 800 vacancies. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted a change. The defence minister proposed reinstating conscription in July 2022. Parliament⁣ approved it in April 2023,⁢ making Latvia⁤ the last Baltic and Nordic country to do so.

The National Defence Service mandates military or civilian ⁤service for male citizens aged 18 to 27, with women allowed to volunteer. Military options include 11 months of regular service, five years in the National⁤ Guard, or a reserve officer program.⁤ Option service involves 11 months in defense sector institutions or the Latvian War Museum.

Latvia’s system emphasizes volunteerism. ⁤Volunteers receive a monthly allowance of 600 euros, compared to 300 euros for draftees, plus 1,100 euros at the end of their term.

From July 2023 to January 2025,1,076 conscripts began‍ service,including 13 women. Most volunteered, with only 64 drafted. The service completion rate for the⁢ first three intakes was 95%, according to the Ministry of Defence of Latvia.

A grassroots initiative to make conscription entirely voluntary gained over 13,000 signatures but failed to gain traction. Concerns mainly relate ⁣to unwilling conscripts, ⁣according to a Ministry of Defence of ⁣Latvia interview. The ministry declined to share conscript polling data.

A positive outcome is that 271 conscripts⁣ have become professional soldiers, according to the Ministry of Defence of Latvia.

Shifting Public Opinion

the ⁣Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga and Riga Stradins university conducted polls from 2022 to 2025 on Latvian views on conscription. Support⁣ increased from 44.7% in 2022 to 61.1% in 2023 and 64% in 2024. However, it declined to 53.8% in 2025. Negative opinions mirrored this trend, rising to 39.4% in 2025.

Despite the decline, support among younger people (ages 18-24) has increased, with 54.7%⁣ favoring conscription in 2025.

A significant gap exists⁣ between latvian and Russian speakers. Among Latvian speakers, 70.7% support conscription, while only 23.5% do not. Among Russian speakers, only 23.7% support it, while 67.5% do not. Support among Latvian speakers remained comparable to 2023-2024, while among Russian speakers, it was even lower than in 2022. Low support also came from ⁤the unemployed (38.3%) and individuals with low income⁤ (44.2%).

The most skeptical respondents were in Riga and Latgale (46.9% and 47.7% supportive, respectively), while the most positive were in Vidzeme (71.8%). Rural areas showed more support than urban⁢ areas (64% and 51.2%, respectively).

More data is needed for a clearer understanding. Latvia’s Defence Ministry, while ⁣noting a “positive” situation, declined‍ to share quantitative data on public support.

What’s next

As Latvia navigates its renewed conscription program, monitoring public sentiment and addressing ‍concerns will be crucial for⁣ its long-term success. The government will need to address the disparities in support among different demographics to ensure a cohesive national defense ‍strategy.