Canadian-led NATO brigade deployed in full for the first time in eastern Latvia

The Canada-led NATO multinational brigade has been deployed in full for the first time in eastern Latvia, about 50 kilometres from the Russian border and 30 kilometres from the Belarusian border. The brigade includes about 2,000 Canadian troops. They are taking part in exercises to prepare for possible threats at a time when the security situation in Eastern Europe remains tense. The situation was reported by Canadian broadcaster CTV News, whose journalists spent time with the soldiers around Daugavpils.

Combat training in an abandoned school

Near Daugavpils, Canadian and Italian troops trained in an abandoned Soviet-era school building. They practised taking and clearing the building, moving floor by floor and simulating combat conditions. One Canadian soldier explained that in a real fight, seizing a building like this would mean many wounded and the need to evacuate them, making it one of the most dangerous operations.

Canada has led the NATO multinational mission in Latvia for almost ten years. This week, for the first time, the entire brigade was positioned close to the country's eastern border. Latvia currently hosts the largest Canadian armed forces contingent abroad.

Mixed local reactions

CTV News reports that local residents' attitudes toward the allied troops differ. Nearly half of Daugavpils residents are ethnic Russians, and political views in the region vary. A Canadian lieutenant said some people view the soldiers' presence more positively than others: some shouted insults, while others welcomed them with open arms. For security reasons, CTV News does not name the soldiers interviewed.

Drones near the border

The troops are also paying close attention to unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the lieutenant, drones are regularly seen near training areas, and their origin is not always clear: sometimes they are civilian, at other times possibly military. At times they fly over the soldiers and take photographs, changing altitude. The officer described such situations as part of the everyday security challenges in the region.

The deployment of the brigade in the east is part of the allies' efforts to demonstrate military readiness and deter possible aggression. Canadian soldiers stress that intensive training is essential so that allied units can work together and respond effectively to potential threats.