Latvia signs Mutual Assistance Pact with Soviet Union

Latvia entered into a Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, which was designed to last for a decade. This agreement permitted the stationing of 25,000 Soviet troops in military bases across Latvia. The pact was framed as a measure of security for Latvia, which had been navigating a complex geopolitical landscape marked by the rising influence of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. The agreement was presented to the Latvian government as a means to bolster its defense capabilities against potential threats, particularly from neighboring countries. In exchange for allowing Soviet military presence, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin assured Latvia that its independence would be respected, a promise that would later be scrutinized as the political climate evolved. The pact was part of a broader strategy by the Soviet Union to expand its influence in the Baltic region, which included similar agreements with Estonia and Lithuania. This military presence fundamentally altered Latvia's security dynamics and its relationship with the Soviet Union, setting the stage for future conflicts and political tensions in the region.