On 2 November, the Cabinet of Ministers (CoM) approved the Latvian counter-terrorism strategy for 2021-2026, developed by the State Security Service. The aim of the strategy is for the institutions involved in counter-terrorism activities to develop a common understanding of the most important directions of work in the next five years in order to ensure the readiness of the responsible services to effectively prevent possible terrorist threats and eliminate their consequences.
Now more than ever we need to take care of the national security of our country. Challenges from our hostile neighbors, as well as the risks associated with radicalization here in Latvia, are not diminishing. Inter-institutional co-operation is very important here, with close co-operation between home affairs services and law enforcement institutions,” noted Minister for the Interior Marija Golubeva.
The threat of terrorism is a daily reality for people in many parts of the world, and developments in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflict areas make it clear that Europe will have to take it into account the next five years,” said Normunds Mežviets, Head of the State Security Service.
The analysis of current trends performed by the State Security Service does not indicate that an increase in the terrorist threat is expected in Latvia in the foreseeable future. At the same time, the involvement of individuals in terrorist activities cannot be ruled out. In order to ensure the ability of the responsible services to identify and prevent terrorist threats at the earliest stage, as well as to respond effectively in the event of a terrorist attack, continuous work must be done to strengthen the Latvian counter-terrorism system. The development of a counter-terrorism strategy was one of the steps in order to form a common vision for the services involved, concerning the priorities related to the counter-terrorism measures,” Mežviets continues.
The level of threat of terrorism in Latvia is low. According to the State Security Service, the most significant risks now and in the next five years will be the radicalization of individuals and contacts with representatives of extremist and terrorist organizations abroad, as well as individuals who have joined the terrorist group Daesh by travelling to Syria and Iraq.
Until now, the priority directions of work to be performed in the field of counter-terrorism were outlined in the National Security Concept and the National Security Plan, but now they are defined in a comprehensive document in the field of counter-terrorism - the Latvian Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
The strategy describes seven priority areas of the Latvian counter-terrorism system: international cooperation, prevention of radicalization and violent extremism, restriction of freedom of action of the terrorists, improvement of protection of objects subject to a risk of terrorism, improvement of regulatory enactments and counter-terrorism plans, improvement of readiness of institutions involved in counter-terrorism measures and promotion of public participation.
The counter-terrorism strategy has been developed on the basis of the analysis performed by the State Security Service of current trends in terrorist threats, as well as the service's forecasts for the development of the security situation in Latvia and Europe in the coming years.
The institutions represented in the expert advisory council of the State Security Service Counter-Terrorism Center were also involved in the development of the strategy: Military Intelligence and Security Service, Constitution Protection Bureau, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Armed Forces, Prosecutor General's Office, Financial Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Finance and Capital Market Commission.
The strategy also takes into account the priority principles set out in the counter-terrorism strategies of the United Nations, the European Union and other international organizations of which Latvia is a member.
Latvia's counter-terrorism strategy for 2021-2026 is a public document that can be accessed by anyone.
The State Security Service is the leading institution of the Latvian counter-terrorism system, which coordinates the activities of state and local government institutions, as well as other legal entities in the field of counter-terrorism.
Prepared by:
Ministry of the Interior, State Security Service