Latvia’s Interior Minister Visits Border With Belarus to Discuss Measures to Strengthen Security

Reform.news Editorial Team · 15 October 2026, 21:53

https://reform.news/en/latvia-s-interior-minister-visits-border-with-belarus-to-discuss-measures-to-strengthen-security/

Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava and State Border Guard Chief Guntis Pujāts visited border guard units in Daugavpils on October 15 and inspected a section of the Latvian-Belarusian border. They discussed the security situation, threats posed by illegal migration and measures to strengthen security along the country’s eastern border.

According to the Latvian Interior Ministry, it reported, during the visit Dombrava and Pujāts visited the “Rauda” accommodation centre for foreigners, the tactical operations centre of the Daugavpils Border Guard Administration, the “Jansi” observation tower and a section of the border under the responsibility of the Silene unit.

The minister was briefed on the organisation of border guard operations, the service’s main tasks, its performance, current risks and cooperation with international partners.

During the meeting, the sides discussed existing and potential threats, including illegal migration and hybrid risks, as well as the measures needed to strengthen security along Latvia’s eastern border.

Dombrava said Latvian authorities consider the security of the eastern border one of their main priorities.

“The Belarusian regime continues to use illegal migration as a tool of hybrid warfare against Latvia. Therefore, securing the eastern border remains one of the state’s main priorities. It is important for me to familiarise myself personally with the working conditions of border guards, the service’s readiness to respond to threats, and to understand what improvements are needed. I highly value the professionalism and dedication of State Border Guard personnel, as well as their contribution to national security. Every day, in difficult conditions, border guards demonstrate their readiness to take decisive action to protect Latvia’s border,” he stressed.

“Our goal is a strong State Border Guard, a modern border surveillance system and effective protection of the eastern frontier that will prevent the Belarusian regime from carrying out provocations on Latvian territory,” the minister added.