US Black Hawk helicopters and soldiers to arrive in Latvia
Five US Black Hawk helicopters and 60 US soldiers will arrive in Latvia on Wednesday and Thursday in support of the Strong Europe initiative and Operation Atlantic Resolve, Delfi reported, referencing a statement issued by the Latvian Armed Forces.
"On July 13 and 14, several US armed forces helicopters will be transferred from the port of Riga to the Latvian Lielvārde air base. Over 60 US soldiers from the 501st aviation battalion and five UH-60 'Black Hawk' helicopters will arrive in Latvia to support the Strong Europe initiative and the Atlantic Resolve operation," the statement read.
The helicopters and servicemen will join more than 200 US soldiers, nine Abrams tanks, and five Bradley infantry fighting vehicles already stationed in Latvia.
Operation Atlantic Resolve is the US’s demonstration of commitment to collective security in Eastern Europe in light of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.