The President Warned of a Possible Anti-Record at the Latvian-Belarusian Border

The president made this statement on Friday, November 6, at a ceremonial event in Jelgava dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the State Border Guard of Latvia, bb.lv reports. ## "This is the first line of defense for our state" Rinkēvičs noted that Latvia needs to continue seeking ways to enhance the effectiveness of border protection. In his opinion, this issue needs to be actively addressed by the new composition of the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers, as internal and external security remain the main priorities of the country. The president paid special attention to the situation at the border with Belarus. "The statistics I have indicate 13,000, and the year is not over yet. I think we all understand perfectly well that this is not just about border protection. Essentially, this is the first line of defense for our state," Rinkēvičs stated. The president suggested that by the end of this year, the number of violations at the Latvian-Belarusian border could be the highest since 2021. ## "Latvia is constantly being tested for resilience" The head of state emphasized that Latvia continuously faces attempts to test the resilience of its security system. According to Rinkēvičs, what is happening at the border cannot be viewed solely as a violation of border regime. The president believes that such actions should be perceived as a direct threat to the independence and security of the state. It is with this understanding, in his opinion, that border protection should be carried out. ## Border Guards Promised Additional Protection Speaking before the employees of the State Border Guard, the president highly praised their professionalism, patriotism, and readiness to fulfill their duties. Rinkēvičs acknowledged that the work of border guards is far from easy. "The protection and strengthening of the eastern border is just the visible part of your work. But there are other duties that you perform daily and about which perhaps not much is said," he noted. The president also announced that he has signed the law passed by the Saeima, supported by the Minister of the Interior and the government, which strengthens the legal protection of border guards. In addition, decisions have already been made to improve the logistical support of the State Border Guard. According to Rinkēvičs, work to strengthen the state border must continue, as the effectiveness of this work directly affects the security of all of Latvia.