NATO plans to expand its presence in eastern Latvia

NATO allies have been stationed in Daugavpils for several months, and their presence is expected to grow elsewhere in eastern Latvia, LSM reported. The NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia will hold its largest exercises to date in the border region from October 26 to November 8, with about 3,000 troops.

At the Daugavpils military base, home to the National Guard’s 34th Infantry Battalion, allied troops have set up tents and equipment bearing Italian flags. Units rotate about once a month, though the length of deployments and number of soldiers depend on requirements. At times, up to 120 troops are stationed there. Previous deployments have included Italians, Spaniards and Canadians.

Brigade commander David Brasars said the troops are positioned in the region so they could support Latvia’s government and armed forces in a crisis. Their presence also helps them learn the local terrain and prepare for possible emergency conditions.

That includes inspecting roads and bridges and assessing where military vehicles could travel. The region’s many lakes make it difficult to move heavy equipment, said Eduards Kurpnieks, commander of the 34th Infantry Battalion. National Guardsmen also learn new skills from allied troops, while the allies learn from local soldiers about conditions they cannot experience in Riga or Adazi. During joint exercises, allied troops also act as the opposing force to test the National Guardsmen’s readiness.

Brasars said personal contact with residents could reduce scepticism about NATO. He said it was important for people to see the alliance’s presence, rather than only hear about it on television and radio.