More than 300 Spanish soldiers from NATO battalion arrive in Latvia
More than 300 Spanish soldiers from a multinational consolidated NATO battalion led by Canada have arrived in Latvia, as reported by the news agency LETA, citing the Republic's Ministry of Defense.
The Spanish soldiers arrived in Latvia together with military equipment, including Leopard tanks, Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, and cargo of technical support and logistics. In the next few days, they will be transferred to a military base in Adazi, where the NATO combat group will be deployed.
It was decided at a summit of the alliance in Warsaw in July 2016 to deploy four multinational battalions in the Baltic countries and Poland beginning early this year. The size of the NATO grouping in Latvia will be over 1000 people and will include soldiers from Albania, Canada, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia.
The Canadian Armed Forces will send 450 infantrymen from the mechanized infantry battalion to Latvia, along with armored vehicles and a reconnaissance platoon. Albania will send 18 demining specialists; Italy, 160 infantry and armored cars; and Poland, its 160th army tank regiment. Another 50 soldiers will be sent to Latvia by Slovenia.
A group of 50 military engineers from Canada arrived in Latvia in the spring to build a camp for 500 soldiers. On Saturday, more than 100 servicemen from the 1st mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom arrived in the Republic.
The Canadian NATO battalion will be deployed in Latvia until June 19.