Event 1042

{
  "category": "Uncategorized",
  "confidence": "High",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "description": "Latvia's Cabinet of Ministers decided on June 17, 2025, to increase the number of professional soldiers in the National Armed Forces by 500 starting July 1, 2025. This will bring the total number of soldiers to 8,000, with the aim of quickly strengthening Latvia's professional military service and more closely aligning with NATO defense structures. Funding for remuneration of these new soldiers in 2025, amounting to up to EUR 7.7 million, will be reallocated within the Ministry of Defence budget. These new positions are primarily planned for the Mechanised Brigade of the Land Forces, including infantry combat vehicle crews, air defence units, artillery units, and additional cadet places at the National Defence Academy. In addition, 432 positions from the public administration 'vacancy bank' will be used, increasing public administration positions by 68.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-06-17T13:46:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "The number of soldiers in the National Armed Forces is planned to increase by 500 as of 1 July, according to a decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday, 17 June.",
    "The additional 500 soldiers will bring the number of soldiers in the National Armed Forces to 8,000 this year.",
    "In order to secure the 500 professional soldier positions more quickly, funding for remuneration in 2025 will be allocated at no more than EUR 7.7 million, which will be reallocated within the Ministry of Defence budget between budget sub-programmes with appropriations based on actual job vacancies.",
    "The 500 additional positions are provisionally planned to be allocated to the Mechanised Brigade of the Land Forces, infantry combat vehicle crews, air defence units, artillery units, as well as additional cadet places at the National Defence Academy.",
    "Following instructions from the State Chancellery, 432 positions available in the 'vacancy bank' will be used and the total number of positions in public administration will be increased by 68."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "category_raw": "Defence",
        "evidence": [
          "The number of soldiers in the National Armed Forces is planned to increase by 500 as of 1 July, according to a decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday, 17 June.",
          "The additional 500 soldiers will bring the number of soldiers in the National Armed Forces to 8,000 this year.",
          "In order to secure the 500 professional soldier positions more quickly, funding for remuneration in 2025 will be allocated at no more than EUR 7.7 million, which will be reallocated within the Ministry of Defence budget between budget sub-programmes with appropriations based on actual job vacancies.",
          "The 500 additional positions are provisionally planned to be allocated to the Mechanised Brigade of the Land Forces, infantry combat vehicle crews, air defence units, artillery units, as well as additional cadet places at the National Defence Academy.",
          "Following instructions from the State Chancellery, 432 positions available in the 'vacancy bank' will be used and the total number of positions in public administration will be increased by 68."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_1042_1764372483_3ecf4a00.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "url": "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/17.06.2025-latvia-plans-to-expand-its-army-by-500-soldiers-almost-immediately.a603632"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/17.06.2025-latvia-plans-to-expand-its-army-by-500-soldiers-almost-immediately.a603632"
}