WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Hundreds of Swedish troops arrived in Latvia on Saturday to join a Canadian-led multinational brigade along NATO's eastern flank. Sweden calls the mission its most important operation to date as part of the Western defense alliance.
The Swedish military said in a statement that the ship carrying part of a mechanized infantry battalion, escorted by the Swedish Air Force and units of the Swedish and Latvian navies, arrived in the Latvian capital's port of Riga early Saturday morning.
Latvia borders Russia to the east and Russia's ally Belarus to the southeast. Russia's war against Ukraine has heightened tensions across Central Europe.
The Swedish Armed Forces said the mission with 550 troops will contribute to the alliance's deterrence and defense efforts and ensure stability in the region, and is “Sweden's largest commitment since joining NATO last year.” said.
Lt. Col. Henrik Rosdahl, commander of the 71st Battalion, said he feels great pride in contributing to the collective defense of the Alliance.
“Today is a historic day, but it is also our new normal,” he said.
Swedish forces have joined one of eight NATO brigades on the alliance's eastern flank. The battalion is stationed on the outskirts of the town of Adazi, near Riga.
Sweden officially joined NATO in March as the 32nd member of the Transatlantic Military Alliance, a move that has become the first since World War II, amid growing security concerns in Europe following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. ended decades of neutrality and centuries of widespread non-alignment with the great powers. Finland also abandoned its longstanding military neutrality and joined NATO in April 2023.
