Photo Marco Campanozzi, Archives La Presse
The Minister of Industry of Canada, Mélanie Joly
Riga, Latvia – Canadian Armed Forces personnel stationed in Latvia received a visit from Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly on Wednesday, as Canada continues its notable contribution too the NATO reassurance mission in the Baltic region.
During her visit to Riga, Joly is scheduled to meet with approximately 2,000 Canadian soldiers currently deployed as part of Operation REASSURANCE, a multinational effort designed to bolster security in Eastern Europe following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent actions. The mission aims to deter further aggression and demonstrate NATO’s commitment to collective defense.
Latvia currently hosts Canada’s largest overseas military deployment. In July 2023, the Canadian government committed $2.6 billion over the 2023-2024 period to renew and extend the operation for three years. this funding will facilitate an increase in the number of Canadian troops deployed to Latvia, rising to 2,200 soldiers beginning in 2026.
Canada assumed leadership of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia in 2017.The eFP Battle Groups where established following the 2016 warsaw Summit to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defense posture in Eastern Europe.The Latvian Battle Group, led by Canada, includes troops from Albania, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain, demonstrating a unified international response to regional security concerns.
Operation REASSURANCE encompasses a range of activities, including land, air, and naval deployments, as well as participation in exercises and training with allies. Canada’s commitment to the mission underscores its dedication to NATO and the security of its Eastern European allies.
