Swedish troops arrive in Latvia as part of NATO hybrid war operations. Credit: thegazeplatform, Twitter.
“Finally, we are here. This is what we have been looking forward to for a long time.” Officer Erik, part of the 550-strong battalion that landed in Riga, Latvia, said amid a collective NATO reinforcement seeking to embark on an important new quest.
At around 9:30am local time Saturday, January 18, Swedish troops touched base in Riga, the Latvian capital, as they joined 13 other NATO member countries in their bid to make an impact in the ‘hybrid war.’
“We want to contribute to alliance and deter”
Officer Erik feels that, with him and his fellow Swedish soldiers having been in training for this operation since last summer, they are ready. “We feel a sense of responsibility at the soldier level that we want to contribute to the alliance and be here, and deter.”
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Sweden’s forces make up over 3000 total soldiers across the 14 nations taking part in Latvia proceedings, as their day-long trek across the Baltic Sea facing severe disruption due to violent winds did not distract them from the key task at hand for the Swedes and for NATO.
Regiment brings host of military personnel and arsenal as Latvia faces hybrid war
The battalion contributing to operations, with its number reduced, from South Scanian regiment P7, brought with them a horde of not only military personnel but weaponry and defence systems, coming with combat vehicles, mortar carriers, combat tanks, and armoured personnel carriers, as well as trucks and broad gauge vehicles.
And Jette Albinus, chief of NATO’s northern division, where the brigade in Latvia is included, stresses the seriousness of the operation. “We do not describe the situation here in Latvia as peaceful, we are in a hybrid phase, where many activities are taking place.
“So for the soldiers, it is not like home. They are in an environment where they need to keep an eye on each other, and be vigilant.”
Best way to deter Russia, Defence minister stated
Defence minister for Latvia Andirs Spruds agrees and feels challenging times will be on the horizon for the troops in Latvia, that represents a regional and global threat as Latvia find themselves in a hybrid war.
“This is the best way to deter Russia from acting in a way that would be harmful to NATO, to us, but also to Russia itself”, he said.
Swedish and Danish military forces will alternate every six months in Latvia with Danish troops to take over in the NATO campaign and will be housed at Camp Valdemar in the town of Adazi, north east of Riga. The facility is built by the Danes themselves.
So Sweden and Denmark will have their soldiers ready for the challenge ahead in Latvia, but who will join them?
The other 12 member nations and participants in the hybrid war in Riga are: Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
The troops will be under Canadian leadership in Latvia as part of NATO proceedings.