The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) plans to carry out a broad transformation, NBS commander Major General Kaspars Pudans announced, LSM reports. The plan includes adding new capabilities and technologies as well as restructuring the overall structure of the armed forces. NATO division deputy commander Brigadier General Ilmars Lejins will lead the transformation. He said…
Latvia’s prime minister nominee, MP Andris Kulbergs of the opposition United List, announced that he would seek to form a four-party coalition government, LSM reported. After trilateral talks, United List, the National Alliance, and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) agreed to invite outgoing Prime Minister Evika Silina’s party, New Unity, to the negotiations….
A Romanian fighter jet based at Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base shot down a drone over Lake Võrtsjärv in southern Estonia on 19 May 2026, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced, ERR reported. Taavi Aas, head of the Põltsamaa municipality, said that the drone crashed into a field near Põltsamaa. No civilian damage or injuries were reported….
Tourist accommodation establishments in Latvia had a total of 447,100 guests in the first quarter of 2026, which was down 3.0% from 460,800 in the same period of 2025, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. The number of foreign guests amounted to 246,600, which was 7.2% fewer than a year earlier. The…
Latvia’s prime ministerial nominee, MP Andris Kulbergs of the opposition United List, will seek to put together as broad a coalition government as possible, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Kulbergs suggested forming a coalition of all five political groups in the current parliament, the Saeima, except the populist Latvia First (LPV). He…
A suspected Ukrainian military drone crashed in northern Lithuania in the early evening of 17 May 2026, LRT reports. The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said that the drone crashed in a field near a village in the Utena district. According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGS), military radars failed to detect the drone, and…
The volume of freight transported by road increased, while the volume of rail freight decreased in Latvia in 2025, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. The total volume of freight transported by land amounted to 89.8 million tonnes in 2025, which was up 0.6% from 89.3 million tonnes in 2024. The volume…
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has asked MP Andris Kulbergs of the opposition United List to begin forming a new government, LSM reports. Rinkevics said that he chose Kulbergs because United List was the largest opposition group in the parliament, the Saeima, at the moment. Forming a new government was preferable to letting outgoing Prime Minister…
Latvia’s outgoing Prime Minister Evika Silina has dismissed Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) after the latter came under criminal investigation for abuse of office, LSM reported. Earlier, Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) briefly detained Krauze and the Agriculture Ministry’s former state secretary, current director of the…