NATO completes first large-scale navy train in Latvia

The first large-scale NATO navy train in Latvia concluded on Thursday after a two-week multinational coaching mission within the Vidzeme and Zemgale areas.

At the navy base close to the capital Riga, troopers have been tasked with breaking via enemy defenses and reclaiming territory in a fancy train involving Leopard 2 tanks and LAV4 armored automobiles.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the alliance has needed to strengthen safety within the Baltics, notably linking Latvia and Canada.

At the Madrid NATO summit in June of that yr, the protection ministers of the 2 international locations signed a joint declaration to strengthen deterrence and the protection of NATO’s japanese flank.

“The NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia train is a transparent and unambiguous demonstration of the Allied presence within the Baltic area and their dedication, along with the nationwide armed forces, to guard Latvia if crucial,” stated the Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds in a press release earlier than the occasion. the train.

Operation Resolute Warrior, the most important worldwide train performed by Canada because the Nineteen Eighties, showcased the brigade’s means to venture its forces and keep command, management and communication.

“We have been in a position to speak to all of us, current in 13 international locations throughout that train. I used to be ensuring that this was not a Canadian brigade the place folks have been adapting to the way in which we do issues,” defined the Brigade commander multinational Latvian, Canadian Army Colonel Cédric Aspirault.

“We needed to verify we created a regular NATO brigade with NATO planning processes and NATO orders,” he added.

The multinational NATO brigade in Latvia presently consists of 13 contributing international locations, together with Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.