Latvia plans to reintroduce military service in response to Russia's war against Ukraine. The government of the Baltic nation, which is both a member of the EU and Nato, supported a corresponding proposal in Riga on Tuesday by the Ministry of Defence, which is now to draw up a draft law.
According to the draft, military service is to be introduced from 2023. Men between the ages of 18 and 27 are to be conscripted -initially on a voluntary basis, but later also on a compulsory basis. Women in the same age group will be able to volunteer for the 11-month military training. Parliament still has to approve the plan. Latvia abolished compulsory military service in 2007 and transformed its armed forces into a professional army supported by a volunteer force. The Baltic state borders Russia and its ally Belarus. -- dpa
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