RIGA (dpa-AFX) – Latvia’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of an ever-increasing threat from Russia. The security risks posed by Russia are increasing significantly in Europe, the authority writes in its annual report for 2025. At the same time, Russia does not currently pose a direct military threat to the Baltic EU and NATO country. However, some signs such as the Russian narratives and propaganda about Latvia point to possible long-term plans, it continues.
According to the Latvian Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Moscow’s perception of the West as an existential threat has increased. Russia already sees itself in a direct confrontation with the West – not only in Ukraine, but also globally and ideologically. This perception increases the risk of miscalculations and means a significant increase in security risks for Europe, the report says.
Unconventional means as the “new normal”
“All possible attempts are being made to influence our Western countries. These will continue and become even more intensive,” said Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze after a meeting with her German counterpart Johann Wadephul (CDU). Russia is increasingly trying to achieve its goals using unconventional means. “This is the new normal”
Wadephul also emphasized: “Of course Russia will continue to try to destabilize us. And of course it won’t stop, not even with a possible peace agreement in Ukraine.”
Acts of sabotage and disinformation campaigns
According to the intelligence service, in 2025 Russia not only continued its activities directed against the West and carried out acts of sabotage and disinformation campaigns. It also demonstrated the will and willingness to carry out cyber attacks on industrial control systems in Latvia and Western countries.
Latvia borders Russia and its ally Belarus to the east. The Baltic state is a close partner and supporter of Ukraine, which has been resisting a Russian invasion for almost four years. “Our observations show that Russia’s perception of Latvia is increasingly similar to the one it had towards Ukraine before the war,” writes the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. This increasingly negative view of Latvia could lead to more aggressive Russian decisions in the long term – even if this is not a priority for Moscow at the moment./awe/DP/stk
