Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today the increase of Canadian soldiers' presence in Latvia as part of the commitments made to NATO, along with a $2.6 billion investment in weaponry and intelligence systems.
Trudeau made this announcement during a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.
It will take three years for Canada to fulfill its commitment to transform a multinational NATO battlegroup in Latvia into a combat-ready brigade, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed on Monday.
The two countries have signed a "roadmap" outlining the process, which began over a year ago when Canada pledged to increase the size and capability of the battlegroup as part of NATO's efforts to bolster its eastern flank in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Trudeau added that nearly a dozen countries across NATO are cooperating, training, and working together to strengthen the collective defense of its members.
The NATO alliance has doubled the number of battlegroups in the region since the war in Ukraine began, deploying them to four countries.