ABSTRACT
Latvia’s security environment is asymmetrical because of Russia, which is the main actor directly influencing security policy options not only in Latvia, but in the other pole, namely, Western Europe as well. The first phase of Latvian security policy covers the period from 1988 to the end of 1990. The withdrawal of Russian troops from Latvia in August 1994 put an end to the third period of Latvian security policy. Regional security arrangements have been adopted as a very important instrument for achieving the final goals of Latvian foreign and security policies, namely: integration into the European Union and NATO. NATO became a goal of Latvian security policy. Reasonable fare to be left outside the future security arrangements in Europe motivated Latvian security and foreign policy makers to look for arguments why the NATO enlargement should expand to Latvia too. If Latvia were left outside the Trans-Atlantic security arrangements, it would affect stability in Europe as well.
