According to bb.lv, the Office of the President reported that Latvia, like other NATO and European Union countries, regularly faces various manifestations of hybrid threats. To prevent them, necessary measures are being taken by the structures of the internal affairs system, the National Armed Forces, and NATO allies. "We highly appreciate the political, diplomatic, and military efforts of NATO allies, including the United States, aimed at strengthening regional security," said the president's advisor. The president's statement followed reports of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow. As previously reported by Politico citing informed sources, one of the main goals of the trip was to warn Russian authorities against escalating the conflict with NATO, especially regarding Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. According to one source from the publication, Ratcliffe also attempted to persuade Moscow to reduce military and economic support for Iran. The Wall Street Journal had also reported earlier that the CIA chief warned Russia against attacking NATO member states. In this context, the Latvian Ministry of Climate and Energy submitted for approval a draft government order that provides for the declaration of a state of emergency in the eastern border areas of the country in the fields of healthcare, energy supply, and water management by December 1. The ministry explains the necessity of such a measure by the risk of escalation of military actions by Russia, as well as the increasing cases of drones and other unidentified objects being detected in Latvian airspace or near the state border. At the same time, the president's position remains unchanged: the immediate military threat to Latvia is currently assessed as low. The main risks remain hybrid operations, sabotage, and cyberattacks, which are being countered by both Latvian services and NATO allies.
