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CANADA TAKES THE LEAD ⟩ About 5,000 NATO Troops Will Be Stationed in Latvia

Canada's Prime Minister Justine Trudeau in Latvia, Adaži, together with Canadian soldiers serving in the enhanced forward NATO battalion. Photo: Adrian Wyld
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Over the next few years, approximately 5,000 NATO troops will be stationed in Latvia, who became the first among Baltic nations to host a NATO brigade.

The Canada-led enhanced forward presence battle group in Latvia will be expanded to the level of an international brigade. The brigade is expected to reach full combat readiness by 2026 and will consist of around 3,500 soldiers.

In addition to the brigade, NATO soldiers will be present in Latvia for other operations, bringing the total number to around 5,000 over the next two years, as defense minister Andris Sprūds told to Latvian news agency LETA on July 3.

A ceremony was held Wednesday at the Ādaži military base to mark the expansion of NATO's presence in Latvia to the brigade level. Sprūds noted that Latvia has become the first Baltic state to establish an international brigade under the alliance.

A Spanish Leopard 2 tank from the NATO forward-deployed battle group during an exercise in Ādaži in March 2023.
A Spanish Leopard 2 tank from the NATO forward-deployed battle group during an exercise in Ādaži in March 2023. Photo: Ints Kalnins

Massive Training Area Established

The brigade's main location will be the Ādaži military base, with the headquarters situated near Riga, and major exercises will be conducted at the Sēlija training area.  Latvia recently started the construction of this vast new training area near southern border with Lithuania.

At the ceremony, Major General Jette Albinus, commander of NATO's Multinational Division North, emphasized the significance of the day, highlighting that representatives from 14 NATO countries will begin arriving in Latvia. "This sends a clear signal that we are united and prepared for any challenge, including an attack from another country," Albinus stressed.

Colonel Cédric Aspirault, the commander of the NATO brigade being formed in Latvia, remarked that the ceremony was the culmination of two years of preparation. "We have very professional soldiers here, equipped with everything necessary, and this is a very clear message. It is a great honor to be here on this important day," Aspirault emphasized.

NATO enhanced forward battalion tanks in Adaži during an exercise in 2022.
NATO enhanced forward battalion tanks in Adaži during an exercise in 2022. Photo: Ints Kalnins

Canada to Lead Brigade Expansion

In the coming months, Latvia and its NATO allies will take further steps to transform the battle group into a combat-ready brigade.

In June 2022, at the NATO summit in Madrid, Latvia and Canada signed a declaration to strengthen and develop the enhanced forward presence battle group in Latvia. Last July, before the NATO summit in Vilnius, the Latvian and Canadian defense ministers signed another declaration. Canada signed a roadmap at the Ādaži military base outlining the steps to transition the battle group into a brigade.

The formation of the brigade, the arrival of additional battle groups, and their integration will be led by Colonel Aspirault.

Currently, the Canada-led NATO enhanced forward presence battle group includes approximately 1,900 soldiers from Albania, Canada, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and North Macedonia, serving on a rotational basis.

Soldiers from Denmark and Sweden will also join the new multinational NATO brigade in Latvia.

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