Following Russia's invasion of Crimea, NATO's member states agreed at the 2016 Warsaw summit to forward deploy four multinational battalion battle groups to areas most likely to be attacked.[3]
The numbers involved, although a notable supplement to the armed forces of the country being defended, are limited so that they avoid seeming to threaten Russia. The chief value of the force is that it is impossible to invade Poland or the Baltic States without battling the soldiers and firing on the flags of the involved NATO states, giving cause for war. It is believed that the prospect of war with all those countries will deter aggression.[citation needed]
Additionally the Danish Army will deploy a mechanized force by 2018 at the latest.[12] Three brigade HQ support personnel from the Royal Danish Army and 1 strategic communications civilian from the Icelandic defence forces have also been stationed in Estonia.[13]
The Latvian multinational battalion battle group is based at Camp Adazi, near the Latvian capital of Riga, and contains approximately 1,500 personnel.[20][21]
Canada provides the core of the NATO battle group in Latvia with approximately 540 mechanized infantry and supporting troops. This contingent, Operation Reassurance, is provided by Canada's high-readiness brigade, a task which rotates annually amongst the three Regular Force brigades of the country. Reservists from more than 100 units across Canada have provided several augmentees to each rotation.[22]
In June 2018, the 2nd Battalion RCR was replaced by the 1st Battalion RCR, based out of Petawawa, Ontario.
2019
In January 2019, Canada's French-speaking mechanized brigade from Quebec, (5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group), took on the task. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sauvé, and most of the soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment (2R22eR) or the armoured 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (12e RBC).[24] In accordance with this rotation cycle, they were replaced in July 2019 by the 2nd Battalion PPCLI from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.
2020
In January 2020, a battle group led by Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, rotated in to Latvia, and was replaced by a battle group led by the 2nd Battalion RCR.
2021
In January 2021, a battle group led by the Royal Canadian Dragoons, of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, relieved the 2nd Battalion RCR.
2023
On 15 December 2023 the Canadian Defence Minister announced several measures to strengthen Canada’s military presence in Latvia as part of the planned increase from about 1,000 Canadian personnel to 2,200 by 2026. These include:[25]
The deployment of four Griffon helicopters to the battle group starting in summer 2024. These will be periodically joined by Chinook helicopters, starting in autumn 2025.
The procurement of portable LR Spike anti-armour missile systems for the Canadian Forces in Latvia. These will be arriving from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems starting in mid-2024.
The deployment of medium-range radar capabilities, which will support the battle group's air defence. They will be joined in due course by a to-be-procured Canadian air defence system.
The full complement of about 130 personnel for Canada's tank squadron of 15 Leopard 2A4M tanks should be in place by spring 2024.
A total investment of more than CA$15 million in infrastructure needed to scale up the battle group to a brigade group.
2024
On 15 February 2024, the Canadian Defence Minister announced that the Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia will receive air defence capabilities consisting of:
The RBS 70 NG short-range air defence system to defend themselves against fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters within its range, close air support aircraft, small uncrewed aerial systems, and larger uncrewed aerial systems.
A counter-drone capability against small drones using the TRD Systems of Singapore ORION-H9 dismounted directional systems; the CACI Inc. of the United States CACI BEAM 3.0 omni-directional systems; and the Leonardo UK Ltd. Falcon Shield fixed-site systems.[26]
In April 2022, the first part of a force consisting of about 750 Danish soldiers, along with armoured vehicles, arrived in Latvia.[28]
Italy
Italy will provide an Italian Army mechanized Infantry company with Freccia and Dardo infantry fighting vehicles. Recently the Italian Army has reinforced its presence with 8 Ariete main battle tanks.
Poland provides an armored company with PT-91 Twardy main battle tanks.
Slovenia
Slovenia will deploy an Infantry reconnaissance platoon, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) team, Contribution to battlegroup headquarters, Support elements of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
Slovakia
Slovakia deployed an armored infantry company consisting of 150 troops from 11th Mechanized Battalion starting in second half of 2018. The Slovak force contribution consists of:
Repairs and Operation Platoon as a support element
A team of medics
Since December 2020, Slovakia has changed capabilities from Mechanized to Artillery. SLOVCON consists of:
Artillery Battery on Zuzana II
Support Platoon (Repairs and Maintenance)
NSE (National Support Element)
Military Police Team
Priest
Medic Team
Spain
Spain will dispatch a reinforced armored infantry company consisting of around 350 troops from the 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Extremadura". The Spanish contingent will include 6 Leopard 2E main battle tanks from the I/16th Tank Battalion "Mérida" of the 16th Armored Regiment "Castilla" and 15 Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles from the I/6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Cantabria" of the 6th Infantry Regiment "Saboya".[29]
Sweden
The Swedish Prime minister announced during a defence conference in January of 2024 that Sweden will provide a Battalion to Latvia in 2025 as part of NATO's forward presence when Sweden joins NATO.[30] The Battalion will be deployed in cooperation with Denmark with a changeover between a Danish and a Swedish battalion every 6 months. Initially the 71 Motorized battalion is earmarked for the Deployment.
Multinational Battalion Battle Group Lithuania
The Lithuania multinational battalion battle group is under the command of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Land Forces and based in Rukla.[31] The battalion has a headquarters company, three to four combat companies and various support units.[31] The battle group is led by Germany.[32] Each rotation lasts six months.[33] Additionally, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the German Armed Forces have expanded their presence in Lithuania. In December 2023 German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and Lithuanian Minister of Defence Arvydas Anušauskas agreed on plans to permanently station a full German Brigade in Lithuania beginning in 2025.[34]
In July 2018, Czechia provided EFP Lithuania the 1st Company Task Force consisting of a mechanized company with Pandur armored vehicles reinforced by an engineer platoon, a logistics unit and a medical element reaching a total of 230 people.[42] After six months, they were replaced by the 2nd Task Force for the next half-year.[42] Both task forces consisted of the 41st Mechanized Battalion [cs]'s soldiers.[42] After deployment, the company task force returned to the Czech Republic in July 2019.[42] From then on until 2021, Czech Army sent four electronic warfare task forces.[42] Since July 2021, an anti-aircraft missile battery from the 252nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Section (sub-unit of the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment [cs]) armed with RBS 70 has been operating in Lithuania.[42]
France
Some 200 soldiers from 5th Dragoon Regiment of the French Army have arrived to Rukla on 3 July 2020, staying there for 6 months until the end of December, with a hundred more administration and logistics personnel. The troops form a mechanised infantry company and are reinforced with 5 Leclerc tanks and 14 VBCI IFVs.[43]
Germany
The first German Army unit to deploy to Lithuania is the 122nd Mechanized Battalion of the 12th Armoured Brigade [de] of the 10th Panzer Division. Equipped with Marder infantry fighting vehicles the battalion will be augmented with Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks from the 104th Tank Battalion, PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery from the 131st Artillery Battalion engineers from the 4th Armored Engineer Battalion and troops from the 4th Supply Battalion.
Norway
2018-2019
From January to June 2018 about 30 soldiers deployed from the Intelligence Battalion's long-range reconnaissance patrol squadron.
2019-2021
From July 2019 troops from the Telemark Battalion and the Armoured Battalion are alternating on deploying an armoured infantry company with IFVs and MBTs consisting of 120-140 soldiers.[44][45][46]
2022
From January 2022 2nd Battalion contributes a mechanized company with a tank capacity of about 140 personnel[47]
The Norwegian Government said in February 2022 that it will increase its contribution with up to 60 soldiers due to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis.[48] In June 2022 the Government extended Norway's contribution in Lithuania until 2023 due to the war in Ukraine.[49]
In August 2022 the taskforce was increased by a platoon from Telemark Battalion, bringing the total number of troops up to ca. 200.[citation needed]
In June 2021, around 30 German soldiers were recalled from service in Lithuania after they were accused of making racist and anti-Semitic remarks and of sexual violence.[51]
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