Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a pledge to significantly increase Canada’s contribution to a NATO mission in Latvia. The commitment includes $2.6 billion in funding over three years and up to 2,200 Canadian troops for continuous deployment. Trudeau announced this during a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and Defence Minister Anita Anand in Riga.
Trudeau emphasized the importance of this move, stating that it represents the future of modern defense. He highlighted the collaboration and training among almost a dozen countries within NATO, emphasizing the lessons learned from each other to strengthen collective defense.
Currently, Canada has approximately 800 Canadian Armed Forces members stationed in the Canada-led battle group in Latvia, making it the country’s largest overseas mission. The additional personnel promised by Trudeau will further bolster and enhance Canadian land, maritime, and air capabilities, as well as support special operations in central and eastern Europe.
In addition to the increase in troops, the prime minister also committed to procuring and pre-positioning critical weapon systems, as well as providing assistance in intelligence and cyberactivities.
Trudeau expressed his stance on Russia’s actions, stating that their unprovoked war on Ukraine threatens freedom, international law, human rights, and the shared democratic values that soldiers have fought to protect.
The announcement comes as part of NATO’s efforts to increase its presence near Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. NATO has doubled the number of battle groups in the region since the war began and plans to expand the size and capabilities of some of these groups into combat-ready brigades.
The joint road map signed by Anita Anand and her Latvian counterpart outlines a three-phase plan to scale up the Latvia battle group into a brigade. The aim is to complete this buildup by 2025, with Canada fully implementing persistently deployed brigade capabilities to Latvia by 2026.
Trudeau and other NATO leaders will be attending the annual summit in Lithuania’s capital city, where discussions on security and defense issues are expected to take place. Before his departure for Vilnius, Trudeau is scheduled to meet with Canadian Armed Forces members stationed in Latvia.
In conclusion, Canada’s increased contribution to the Latvia mission signifies its commitment to collective defense and strengthening NATO’s presence in the region. The funding, troops, and enhanced capabilities demonstrate Canada’s dedication to maintaining international security and upholding democratic values.
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