On 19 June, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) held a meeting of Counterterrorism Centre Expert Advisory Council discussing the current developments in the counterterrorism field, reviewing the draft Latvian counterterrorism strategy for 2027-2031 and outlining the priorities for the next half of the year. VDD organises such meetings biannually.
VDD along with representatives of the institutions involved in the implementation of counterterrorism measures discussed the current trends of terrorism threats in Europe. Attention was paid to the increase in youth radicalisation and participation in violent activities.
VDD emphasises that the current terrorism threat level in Latvia is low and the information at VDD’s disposal does not indicate that the situation could change in the near future.
During the meeting, members of the Counterterrorism Centre Expert Advisory Council reviewed the draft Latvian counterterrorism strategy for 2027-2031 developed in the first half of the year outlining the priority areas of activity for the next five years and agreed on the next steps for adopting the strategy. The draft strategy describes the current terrorism threat situation, its potential development in the following years and specifies measures to be carried out within the previously defined areas of activity.
National level counterterrorism exercise "WINDAU 2026", which took place on 4 June 2026 in Ventspils, was also discussed during the meeting. Approximately 600 participants from different institutions took part in the exercise, testing their readiness to respond in accordance with the counterterrorism plan “Ship”1. The exercise simulated an attack on a passenger terminal and the taking of hostages on a ferry.
The participants of the meeting were also introduced to the primary activities carried out by VDD in the area of improving preventive and response counterterrorism measures. VDD continued to strengthen the security of terrorism risk objects, evaluated the security plans of several high-risk public events submitted by organisers, and in individual cases evaluated the implemented security measures on site.
At the meeting, VDD also informed the participants about the activities implemented thus far by the Council subgroups – the radicalisation prevention group "PREVENT" and the Terrorism Financing Investigation Coordination Group.
Within the scope of "PREVENT", VDD gave multiple briefings about the signs of radicalisation to representatives of various institutions, such as mentors in the education sector providing support to young people and officers of the State Police.
The Terrorism Financing Investigation Coordination Group discussed current developments in the prevention of terrorism financing.
VDD’s Counterterrorism Centre Expert Advisory Council is the consulting and coordinating institution whose aim is to improve the cooperation among VDD, state and municipal institutions, as well as the private sector within the counterterrorism field in order to ensure the national preparedness to effectively prevent terrorism threats and remedy their consequences.
The Council includes representatives from institutions such as Defence Intelligence and Security Service, Constitution Protection Bureau, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prosecution Office, Financial Intelligence Unit, National Armed Forces, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Latvia.
1 Full name of the plan – Response plan in the event of a threat to ships, ports and port facilities (counterterrorism plan "Ship"); approved at the Cabinet of Ministers sitting on 7 September 2021.
Information prepared by VDD
Illustrative photo by Magnific
