Canadian troops bound for Latvia ‘protectors of values’: ambassador
Latvia’s ambassador to Canada, Karlis Eihenbaums, reminded Canadian troops destined for his home country as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence that their role in the tiny Baltic nation is to show global solidarity in the region and to the rest of the world.
In his address to about 100 members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Edmonton on Friday, Eihenbaums said their presence in Latvia is welcomed as is their commitment to take the lead of a 1,200-troop multinational battle group.
“You are keeping the clock of the world moving forward,” he said.
“We want modern times, times of prosperity and innovation, not dark ages.
“You are the ones who keep the hands of the clock moving clockwise. You are the protectors of values.”
The small batch of 3rd Canadian Division troops will be joined over the next few weeks by the remainder of the 450-member contingent of Canadian personnel who will be stationed at the Adazi military base, located just outside of the capital city of Riga.
There they will be joined by troops from Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain.
Another three multinational battle groups with troops from most NATO nations are being stationed in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland to act as a NATO deterrence against Russian aggression in the region.
While NATO has repeatedly said its presence is reassurance for countries in that region, Russia has depicted it as an aggressive measure that “gravely increases the risk of incidents.”
Col. William Fletcher, commander of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, said Canada’s posture in the Baltics will be “defensive in nature.”
“We are going to defend Latvia, we are not going to focus on offensive operations and taking the fight to the Russians,” he said. “That’s not what we’re there for.” As much as NATO countries fall under the protective umbrella of the principle of collective defence — known as Article 5 — a physical presence is required in the region, Fletcher said.
“I think Article 5 is a powerful message but notwithstanding the fact that it’s policy and been articulated, there is something to be said about boots on the ground, a defined physical presence, that backs up Article 5,” he said.
Eihenbaums added that “despite the outright hostile attitudes and actions” by Russia in the region, with its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and a similar operation in South Ossetia in 2008, “this is a presence that keeps peace” and the permanent deployment of international troops “is not about starting some military action.”
He said the “embedded message” of the multinational deployment is one of solidarity.
“We are not alone,” he said. “This represents the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen and Latvia does not take for granted Canada’s generosity or the generosity of other allies.”