Sweden plans to send an army battalion of 800 troops to Latvia early next year to reinforce the NATO enhanced forward presence battle group based in Latvia,said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Report informs, citing Latvian media.
Swedish newspaper DN, citing its sources, says it is planned to send a mechanized battalion to Latvia, which will include about 800 soldiers, as well as armored vehicles and combat cars, possibly also Leopard tanks. The Swedish army's management plans for this unit to arrive in Latvia in early 2025.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds (Progressives) says in a conversation with DN that this is great news for Latvia because the presence of NATO forces is important for Latvia's security.
The Swedish battalion is expected to form part of the Canada-led NATO force's enhanced forward presence battle group.
In the summer of 2023, Latvia and Canada signed an agreement to double the number of Canadian soldiers stationed in Latvia.