Latvia’s National Armed Forces (NBS) intends to recruit an additional 500 professional soldiers, Baltic News Network reports. NBS plans to recruit altogether 8,000 professional soldiers over 2025. The Defence Ministry has allocated up to EUR 7.7mn of state budget funds for military staff salaries in 2025. Another EUR 6.5mn will be needed in 2026. The NBS target for its peacetime force structure is 31,000 service members by 2030, including 4,000 national defence service conscripts, 8,000 professional soldiers, 12,000 National Guard (LRZS) members, and 7,000 high-readiness reservists. Currently, NBS has 7,870 professional soldiers, 10,000 National Guards, and 38,000 reservists. Latvia’s national defence concept states that the country’s wartime force must reach 61,000 personnel, composed of the 31,000-strong peacetime force and 30,000 general reservists.
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