Sweden readies historic troop deployment in Latvia
Photo: Swedish soldiers will be sent abroad for the first time as part of NATO forces (forsvarsmakten.se)
Swedish troops are preparing to deploy to Latvia, marking the first time in history that they will serve as part of NATO forces. The troops are set to depart at the beginning of next year, reports Reuters.
As stated by Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, the commitment to collective defense is unwavering among all allies.
"The deployment of this battalion will help make Latvia, Sweden but also NATO as a whole more secure," she said.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds thanked Swedish partners for their decision to strengthen the alliance and the Baltic region. He visited a military base in southern Sweden yesterday, where he was shown the unit that will send 600 soldiers to NATO forces in Latvia.
This regiment is set to arrive in Latvia in early 2025 and will join the land brigade led by Canada.
Why this decision is historic
Notably, after 200 years of neutrality, Sweden joined NATO in March 2024 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted a reevaluation of its national security policy.
The deployment of troops to Latvia will be Sweden's first as a member of the North Atlantic Alliance. It has also been reported that the Swedish army intends to position soldiers in the Finnish province that borders Russia.
