A formal change of command ceremony for the Latvian Naval Forces occurred on August 12, 2026, in Liepāja. Captain Gvido Ļaudups assumed command from Fleet Admiral Māris Polencs, who served as commander for four years since 2022. Ļaudups began his naval service in 1997, having held various positions including ship captain, Commander of the Mine Countermeasures Squadron, Chief of Naval Forces Staff, and commander of NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1. Upon taking command, Ļaudups stressed the need for the Naval Forces to adapt their operational and tactical capabilities to modern warfare, referencing lessons from friends enduring the war against Russia. Polencs highlighted ongoing projects including infrastructure development and coastal defense modernization, prioritizing combat readiness amid the current geopolitical situation. The Naval Forces under Polencs engaged actively in international exercises and NATO Standing Naval Forces Group activities in the Baltic Sea.

A formal change of command ceremony for the Latvian Naval Forces occurred on August 12, 2026, in Liepāja. Captain Gvido Ļaudups assumed command from Fleet Admiral Māris Polencs, who served as commander for four years since 2022. Ļaudups began his naval service in 1997, having held various positions including ship captain, Commander of the Mine Countermeasures Squadron, Chief of Naval Forces Staff, and commander of NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1. Upon taking command, Ļaudups stressed the need for the Naval Forces to adapt their operational and tactical capabilities to modern warfare, referencing lessons from friends enduring the war against Russia. Polencs highlighted ongoing projects including infrastructure development and coastal defense modernization, prioritizing combat readiness amid the current geopolitical situation. The Naval Forces under Polencs engaged actively in international exercises and NATO Standing Naval Forces Group activities in the Baltic Sea.