Defence Minister Bill Blair to visit Latvia and Poland

December 13, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, accompanied by General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, will visit Latvia from December 15-16, 2023, and then travel to Poland on December 17-18. Minister Blair and General Eyre will meet with Latvian and Polish officials, and thank Canadian Armed Forces members deployed abroad for their service.

In Latvia, Minister Blair will hold bilateral meetings with Andris Sprūds, Defence Minister of the Republic of Latvia, and other Latvian officials, to strengthen the Canada-Latvia defence relationship and discuss plans to surge the Canadian-led NATO battle group in Latvia to a brigade. Minister Blair and General Eyre will also visit Ādaži Military Base (Camp Ādaži) to meet with troops deployed as part of the Canadian-led enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE.

In Poland, Minister Blair and General Eyre will meet with Polish officials, and Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to train Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) personnel under Operation UNIFIER.

December 15, 2023 (all times local)

10:00 am - Minister Blair and Andris Sprūds, Defence Minister of the Republic of Latvia, will hold a media availibility. The Ministers will deliver remarks and take questions from media present in person. 

Notes for media:

• Location: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
• Please register by contacting roberts.skraucs@mod.gov.lv

4:30 pm – Minister Blair will attend the Transfer of Command Authority ceremony for the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia, and scrum with media.

Notes for media:

• Location: Camp Ādaži
• Please register by contacting Steven.Hawken@forces.gc.ca 

Associated Links

• Canada-Latvia relations
• Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Operation REASSURANCE
• Canada-Latvia Joint Declaration