Canadian Armed Forces Reconnaissance Team in Latvia

September 1, 2016 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces                              

A team of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members is currently in Latvia to conduct initial assessments of the requirements necessary to establish and sustain a multinational NATO battlegroup in Latvia. The visit includes a series of briefings and activities with Latvian and other Allied officials.

As was announced on July 8, 2016, the Canadian Armed Forces are preparing to deploy troops and equipment to Latvia in 2017 in order to lead a robust multinational NATO battlegroup. In doing so, Canada will become one of four Framework Nations leading the Alliance’s enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe.

This land-based battlegroup is part of the renewed Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces’ support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

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Quick Facts

• The reconnaissance team, led by Commodore Brian Santarpia, is composed of members of the Defence Team specializing in the fields of operational planning, policy, military training, logistics, medical, signals and communications, transport, and finance.
• The objective of the trip is to gather information to support recommendations to be made to CAF leadership in order to successfully conduct the land-based Operation REASSURANCE mission in Latvia.
• Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities undertaken by the CAF to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Eastern and Central Europe. It includes operational and tactical level demonstrations, manoeuvres, and enhanced interoperability activities with Allies and partners. This multinational enhanced forward presence clearly demonstrates that an attack against one Ally is an attack against all Allies, and that the Alliance as a whole will respond to threats to its collective security.
• Canada will deploy the following capabilities on Operation REASSURANCE:
• Land: as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, Canada will assume a leadership role as one of four Framework Nations and will be responsible for establishing and leading a multinational NATO battlegroup in Latvia.
• Maritime: The CAF has been deploying a frigate on a persistent rotational basis and will continue to do so, to be employed for exercises and operational tasks primarily with NATO’s maritime forces based in NATO Maritime Command’s Areas of Responsibility.
• Air: An Air Task Force, comprised of up to six CF-18 fighter aircraft, as well as flight crew, command staff, and support personnel will conduct periodic surveillance and air policing activities in the NATO Areas of responsibility, along with additional bilateral and multilateral training activities.

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Associated Links

• Government of Canada Operation REASSURANCE Mandate Renewal Announcement
• Biography Commodore Brian Santarpia

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca