Sweden to enhance NATO forces in Latvia with troops and tanks
Sweden will send troops to Latvia. The battalion will include CV 90 armored vehicles and Leopard tanks. The Swedish unit will strengthen the NATO contingent led by Canada. The Prime Minister of Sweden announced that the military unit would count from 400 to 500 people.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday that his country has completed the military integration process with NATO, reports PAP. He added that Stockholm will send troops to Latvia at the beginning of next year.
The Swedish government has decided to send troops to the Canada-led NATO brigade in Latvia at the beginning of next year. The military unit will consist of 400 to 500 personnel and be equipped with CV 90 armored vehicles and Leopard tanks. The Swedes will alternate with the Danes in manning the Ādaži military base near Riga, PAP reports.
"NATO's defense effectively begins in Latvia"
On Thursday in Stockholm, the Prime Minister of Sweden met with his counterpart from Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš. "The defense of NATO effectively begins in Latvia, for example, and Swedish soldiers will return from there even better trained," Kristersson remarked, addressing concerns over whether sending troops would diminish Sweden's defense capabilities.
Formal approval for the troops to be stationed in Latvia will still need to be obtained from the Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, however, the military has already begun preparations. The head of the Swedish government first discussed plans to deploy troops to Latvia in January at a security conference in Sälen. At that time, Sweden was not yet a member of NATO.
