DT News interview: Task Force Latvia Commander, Col Laforest on the completion of a multi-national headquarters in Latvia

Video / July 8, 2021

Transcript

(ET) The Canadian Armed Forces recently completed construction of a multi-national headquarters adjacent to the Latvian National Armed Forces Joint Headquarters in Riga.

Today, we’re joined by Task Force Latvia Commander, Colonel Eric Laforest to tell us more about how this new facility will contribute to the ongoing goals and work on Operation REASSURANCE.

Good day, sir, and thank you for joining us today. To start up, I was hoping you could talk to us a little bit about the impetus of building a main stay CAF facility adjacent to the Latvian National Armed Forces Joint Headquarters.

(EL) Thank you. The impetus for building this multinational headquarters is that Canada, here in Latvia, is a Framework Nation for the Enhance Forward Presence. With that comes a requirement to create that location where people can come together, have a look at the same intelligence, have a look at all the capabilities that we've got, all at once, and then after that, decide with the united front, about how we're going to move forward for anything that we do desire to do. So this is the impetus. It is the place where along with our nine sending nations, along with our colleagues from the Latvian National Armed Forces. This is the place where really we're all going to jell into one cohesive thing. And then, we're going to move forward from there.

(ET) Excellent. Thanks for that, sir. And I was also wondering, you know, do you think having this facility will improve the already strong relationship between the two countries and two Forces?

(EL) Most certainly. When it comes down to show credibility and commitment, there is no better example than what we've done over the last two-three years when we were building this building. This is a credible representation of our commitment to the defence of Latvia if needed.

(ET) Thanks, sir. You alluded to some other nations that are also participating. How do you think that this will improve the relationship with the other countries contributing personnel to the Enhanced Forward Presence battle group?

(EL) It has certainly increased the ability for us to all get together, work on the same system, work on the same intelligence that we're getting from our folks. And then, after that, from there, making all of those plans that are so crucial to make sure that we move with a united front on anything that the adversary or the environment or, you know what, COVID can throw at us.

(ET) Absolutely. There's no shortage of sidewinders these days. Thank you very much for joining us today, sir, and telling us a little bit about the new facility and how it's going to improve the relationship with our Forces abroad. Thank you, sir.

(EL) You're welcome.

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