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What Latvia and Belarus signalled in early July 2022
Summary
A look back at two regional developments reported in the days up to 8 July 2022, in Riga and Minsk.
What was the Russian invasion of Ukraine doing to security thinking in neighbouring states by 8 July 2022? Two reports from the preceding days offer a glimpse.
On 6 July 2022, it was reported that Latvia planned to reintroduce conscription, which had been abolished in 2006. The plan was presented as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The final decision was to be taken by the country's parliament, the Saeima, so the proposal had not yet become law.
Belarus offered a different message. On 2 July 2022, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that his country had intercepted Ukrainian missiles directed at Belarus three days earlier. He also said that Belarus did not want war with Ukraine.
Taken together, the reports show how the invasion was reshaping debate in the region: one neighbour weighing a return to compulsory military service, another making claims about missiles while declaring it sought no war with Ukraine.
