Rikveilis: no real conditions yet for stationing nuclear weapons in Latvia

During the TV24 programme “Globuss,” the question of potentially stationing nuclear weapons in Latvia was discussed following a statement from the president on the topic. Defence Ministry State Secretary Airis Rikveilis explained that such a step is not realistic in the near term and should not be taken literally.

A symbolic rather than practical step

According to Rikveilis, the main value of the president's statement is communicative and symbolic, rather than signalling an imminent deployment of nuclear weapons in the country. He noted that the topic carries weight partly because Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly used nuclear threats, making the issue relevant to Latvia's security context as well.

Extensive infrastructure required

The state secretary stressed that stationing nuclear weapons is not a simple matter of finding a suitable location. It requires appropriate infrastructure and extensive preparation. Rikveilis compared this to infrastructure he had personally seen in Belgium and the Netherlands, where specific bases are designated for this purpose. In his view, Latvia's former military bases are not suitable for such a purpose.

NATO deterrence flexibility

Discussing NATO's nuclear deterrence capabilities more broadly, Rikveilis said that what matters is not only the physical location of weapons but also the ability to relocate them as needed. He said this flexibility allows the alliance's military commanders to adapt to changing circumstances.