Covid-19, Latvia, Legislation, Logistics, Security, Transport

According to Kalnins, Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks (For Development) has talked to him about this issue, and Kalnins has given a positive answer. Now all that is left is to give an order and the army will be involved in organizing the vaccination.

On the other hand, there is no reason to expect that army medics could provide additional support in the fight against Covid-19, as 90 percent of these specialists already work in hospitals on a daily basis, so they are already involved in this work.

Currently, 41 soldiers are infected with Covid-19, all of them local and none of them allied soldiers. Another 155 soldiers are in self-isolation. Within the armed forces, all the infected soldiers have had light symptoms of the virus.

According to Kalnins, in 2020 the army has shown its strength, because all tasks have been completed, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, next year the army does not plan to deviate any plans due to the pandemic.

Next year's most important purchases will be related to the purchase of 6x6 equipment, small arms, drones, high technology and communications. In total, the army's budget is over EUR 700 million, and about a third of these funds are planned for investment. It is planned to develop more infrastructure in the regions as well.

As reported, the Saeima yesterday voted to reappoint Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins as the Latvian Chief of Defense.

Kalnins' new term in the top military office starts January 27, 2021.

Kalnins has been serving in the Armed Forces since 1997, when he became a member of the Home Guard's 51st Battalion. He was appointed head of the Reconnaissance Training Center in 2003, then served at the Training and Doctrine Command from 2003 to 2005, and as a senior officer at the Home Guard's Operative Planning Department from 2005 to 2011, when he was appointed commander of the Home Guard.

Kalnins is a graduate of the Baltic Defense College in Estonia and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Kalnins was deputy head of the Latvian contingent in Iraq during the U.S.-led operation in 2006.