Canadian Armed Forces soldiers from Edmonton deployed to Latvia in defence mission – Edmonton | 24CA News
At the break of daybreak Saturday, dozens of Canadian Armed Forces troopers patiently waited to board a flight to part of the world not removed from conflict.
“Along with nine other nations, we’ll be forming a battle group and that battle group will integrate with the Latvian brigade,” Infantry firm commanding officer Maj. John Miller stated.
These 140 troopers based mostly out of CFB Edmonton are being deployed to the nation of Latvia, which neighours Russia and isn’t removed from Ukraine.
The mission is a part of Operation Reassurance, an initiative launched in 2014 that’s aimed toward selling safety and stability in central and jap Europe.
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‘We have seen that Russia is a rambunctious nation, that it’s opportunistic and it is able to use navy drive for reaching its political objectives,” Latvian Ambassador to Canada Kaspars Ozoliņš stated.
The concern for Latvia and its NATO allies is now higher than ever, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“[Since] the 24th of February of this year, the focus has been elevated, if I could say the least. This battle group has always been ready to fight and this one will definitely be,” 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade commander Col. Philippe Bourque stated.
The troopers will probably be overseas for six months, coaching and dealing on different elements of the mission.
“Their main focus is getting these troops to be ready to fight together,” Bourque stated.
“We are part of the Latvian army at that point, so if anyone does attack Latvia we’re fighting with the Latvian army,” Miller stated.
That’s a safety measure Latvia’s ambassador to Canada stated he hopes isn’t enacted.
“We don’t know what may happen in the future, as well it is very important that this us a long-term effort, that there is a NATO presence and that we deter any kind of aggression,” Ozoliņš stated.
‘We are holding our dedication to the Latvian folks to be there and to be that credible drive in Latvia,” Bourque stated.
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