Latvia is weighing whether to rip up parts of the railway line that run into Russia, a statement from the presidency said on November 28 after a meeting of the Military Council. 

With border tensions unlikely to ease in the foreseeable future, dismantling the rail links is being treated as one of several potential security measures. Baltic leaders are expected to revisit the issue at forthcoming regional discussions between presidents and prime ministers.

“The President received a briefing from the National Armed Forces on the implementation of counter-mobility measures, including the status of railway connections with Russia and Belarus, the potential risks these pose to national security, and possible solutions for mitigating and eliminating such risks,” the statement said. 

“The Military Council discussed the need to prepare a comprehensive report detailing the timeline, scope of work, and resources required to ensure the most effective protection of Latvia’s eastern border.” 

The issue was also discussed by President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silina at their weekly meeting on November 26, senior officials confirmed, independent news agency LETA and national broadcaster LSM reported on November 28.

By the end of the year, the Latvian government expects to compile an assessment on the feasibility of removing tracks along the country’s eastern frontier. The National Armed Forces will contribute to the analysis, and Riga intends to coordinate closely with Lithuania and Estonia before any decision is taken.

“We cannot rule out any option for strengthening national defence and security, but such decisions must be made by determining both the timeframe and the scope of the work and assessing what this means for various socio-economic aspects,” Rinkevics said, LETA and LSM.lv reported.

He cautioned that public debate so far has featured “A lot of emotions, [but] little rationality,” following heated exchanges on social media.

The president made clear that no substantive talks or decisions will be taken before next year, noting the government’s pledge to complete an initial assessment before the end of December, LETA and LSM.lv reported.