Home  /  Newsroom  /  News  /  2023  /  Canada to deploy more troops to Latvia in order to reinforce enhanced Forward Presence

SZCZECIN, Poland - On June 16, the Canadian Minister of Defence announced that Canada will bolster its presence in Latvia by deploying a Canadian Army Tank Squadron of 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks and personnel. Since 2017, Canada has led a multinational battlegroup in Latvia, which ensures the security of NATO’s eastern flank.

This Canadian Army Tank Squadron will join the Canada-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup in Latvia – a multinational, ten-nation battlegroup that Canada has led as the Framework Nation since 2017. The deployment of the Canadian Army Tank Squadron will significantly boost the battlegroup’s military capabilities. It is set to take place over the coming months, with the full arrival of the tanks, initial supporting personnel, and equipment expected by autumn 2023. The full complement of approximately 130 personnel should be in place by spring 2024.

This announcement demonstrates Canada’s commitment to implementing the Canada-Latvia Joint Declaration of June 2022, through which Canada pledged to work with Latvia and NATO Allies to generate and stage forces in order to surge the eFP Battlegroup Latvia to a combat capable brigade.

On the same day (June 16) in Ādaži, Latvia, Lieutenant Colonel Craig Higgins, the 1st Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry, handed over the command of the Battlegroup to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Vincent, the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment (1RCR). In accordance with their rotation plan, 1RCR is deployed in Latvia for a six-month tour of duty.

From the left: Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Vincent, the incoming Commander NATO eFP Battlegroup Latvia, Colonel Sandris Gaugers, Commander Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Craig Higgins, the outgoing Commander NATO eFP Battlegroup Lativa during the eFP Battlegroup Change of Command ceremony in Ādaži, Latvia, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks

Multinational soldiers with NATO eFP Battlegroup Latvia line up in Ādaži as 1RCR takes the helm of the Battlegroup, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Vincent, the incoming Commander NATO eFP Battlegroup Latvia, addresses troops during the eFP Battlegroup Change of Command ceremony in Ādaži, Latvia, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks

Multinational soldiers with NATO eFP Battlegroup Latvia line up in Ādaži as 1RCR takes the helm of the Battlegroup, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks

Colonel Sandris Gaugers, Commander Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade decorates Lieutenant Colonel Craig Higgins, the outgoing Commander NATO eFP Battlegroup Lativa during the eFP Battlegroup Change of Command ceremony in Ādaži, Latvia, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks

Colonel Sandris Gaugers, Commander Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Vincent, the incoming Commander NATO eFP Battlegroup Latvia exchange salutes during the eFP Battlegroup Change of Command ceremony in Ādaži, Latvia, June 16 © Kaspars Lejnieks