Latvia border guard urges stronger army support as Belarus migrant flows rise

Latvia’s State Border Guard chief Guntis Pujāts told Latvian Radio that the force now needs greater backing from the National Armed Forces. He said, “Nevarētu teikt, ka armija mūs neatbalsta šobrīd – atbalsta,” but stressed that more troops, patrols and resources are required to handle the high‑volume illegal migration pressure on the Belarus‑Latvia frontier.

Pujāts linked the surge to Latvia’s support for Ukraine, restrictions on Russian‑language media, and the political climate ahead of upcoming elections, which he said are being used to fuel migration instrumentalisation. The government has extended a reinforced border‑guard regime along the Belarusian border until 31 December to curb the flow. In 2024, 12,046 illegal crossing attempts were recorded, with 7,634 people stopped so far this year and 26 admitted on humanitarian grounds.

He called for a review of involvement formats and an intensification of army support to supplement police efforts, noting that the current police backing is already “very intensive.”