Latvia’s foreign minister has suggested that Britain consider a conscription model to defeat Vladamir Putin.
Krisjanis Karins said the only way to defend against Russia’s aggressive policy was to consider a ‘total defence’ model which would involve conscripting citizens to fight on the front lines at short notice.
The foreign minister also said Britain, along with other Nato allies, would have to increase its defence spending in the coming years to protect itself.
The comments follow British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders’s calls for the UK to be prepared to answer the call to fight for King and country in the form of a ‘citizen army’.
Mr Karins revealed that Latvia, which shares a 133-mile border with Russia, reintroduced conscription following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
Latvia’s foreign minuster Krisjanis Karins has urged Britain and other Nato members to adopt a conscription model to fight back against Vladamir Putin
The foreign minister suggested that countries follow the Finnish model to conscription – the Nordic country has reserves of 250,000 trained troops ready to fight
Mr Karins added that Nato was willing to fight for every inch of its members territory and that Britain was important for this defence plan
Following Finland’s model, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 27 are required to complete an 11-month term of national service.
The foreign minister, who was his country’s prime minister until September, encouraged the UK and other countries to follow their lead.
In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, he said: ‘We would strongly recommend this. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defence involving all parts of civil society.’
Mr Karins added that Nato was willing to fight for every inch of its members’ territory and that Britain was important for this defence plan.
Finland’s conscription model has allowed it to build up a small standing army but a large reserve of up to 250,000 trained troops.
The Nordic country joined Nato in April 2023 and their neighbour Sweden followed suit earlier this month.
The Latvian minister’s comments have been echoed by Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham who says it’s right that Britain prepare itself to go to war with the president of Russia in the next six years.
The Latvian foreign minister met with Boris Johnson at Downing Street in March 2022
Tom Tugendhat broke ranks last week and demanded a push to increase military spending to 3 per cent of GDP after visiting Poland (pictured)
Mr Karins met Liz Truss and Italy’ Prime Minister Mario Draghi in 2022 as part of the European Political Community
There is mounting pressure on Rishi Sunak to increase defence spending and explore the possibility of national service as Nato considers how to tackle Russia’s aggressive policy
In an interview, the emeritus professor suggested the military begin recruiting volunteers for a civilian force over the next three years – and be ready for a mandatory call up within six.
Prof Glees said: ‘I would see a ‘limited conscription’, a call-up of incentivised volunteers, as being very much on the cards if Putin is now thrown out of Ukraine. Obviously, if there were a wider European or world war conscription would follow at once.
Tobias Ellwood, a former minister and ex-chairman of the Commons defence committee, said he would take Mr Karins’s suggestions into account.
He said: ‘Visiting Finland recently, it was clear to see they have the most impressive ‘total defence’ model in Nato,’ said Mr Ellwood. ‘Sitting on the West’s front line during the Cold War necessitated retaining the ability to mobilise much of the population at short notice.
Full-time Army numbers are set for new lows of 73,000 by next year according to army top brass and senior figures have warned that the British army is not ready for warfare yet.
Despite dwindling recruits, the Latvian minister’s suggestions were batted away by Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army who insisted that conscription was not necessary for the UK which is so far from Russia’s borders.
He added that adopting national service was much more sensible for Latvia which needed to prove to Russia that they were flexible and ready for conflict at a moment’s notice.
Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure to increase the defence budget after Poland’s president urged greater military spending.
Andrzej Duda called for all Nato members to increase investment in their armed forces to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) – a multi-billion-pound boost from the current 2 per cent – saying such a move would send a ‘clear’ message to Vladimir Putin.
His remarks came as a host of Conservative former defence ministers slammed the Government over its failure to raise defence spending in the Budget.
Tom Tugendhat broke ranks last week and demanded a push to increase military spending to 3 per cent of GDP.
As he travelled to Poland, a Nato partner which already spends 4 per cent of GDP on defence, Mr Shapps described his vision for a properly funded Armed Forces – including an overhaul of the ‘ludicrous’ recruitment process.
Asked if Mr Karins supported the UK increasing its defence budget, the foreign minister said it was necessary in dealing with Russia in he long term.
He also warned that Nato members should continue to support Ukraine because if the war-torn nation sued for peace now, Russia would simply use that time to re-arm itself before waging war again.
The Latvian minister also emphasised that Europe needed to urgently work with the US to ease the pressure as the country increasingly turns its attention towards China.
He added that even if Donald trump were to win the next presidential election he did not think the US would pull out of Nato as America’s worldwide military presence was part of trump’s strategy to ‘make America great again’.