Latvia’s crisis readiness rated four out of 10

Latvia is currently prepared for various threats and crises at a level of four out of 10, LSM reported, citing Crisis Management Centre head Colonel Arvis Zīle in an interview with Latvian Radio’s Krustpunktā programme.

The centre has managed military and civilian cooperation in emergencies, known as comprehensive national defence, for more than a year. Its annual budget is nearly two million euros.

Zīle said action plans had been developed and readiness was steadily improving, but much work remained. He described the current level as weak, but stressed that it was not zero.

“If the worst-case scenario occurred, a military threat or military aggression against our country, state institutions would face many surprises and would have to act. We would have to build the plane while flying it,” Zīle said.

He said it was impossible to prepare for everything, but steps were being taken to improve the country’s readiness and resilience.

Awareness among individuals was also gradually increasing, Zīle said, as people observed events around them, the behaviour of Latvia’s neighbour and incidents in the country this year. He said households should be prepared for possible electricity or food supply disruptions and should keep basic first-aid supplies, medicines and dressings at home.

Zīle said a score of four indicated a low level of readiness, but was still a passing grade. He said Latvia was at a level where it would be able to survive.

He identified a military threat as the most dangerous scenario at present, saying it would be the hardest situation in which to adapt and reorganise daily life so that the country could continue functioning. At the same time, he said there was no reason to panic.