Canada deploys 15 Leopard 2 tanks in Latvia

Canadian authorities, a NATO partner nation, deployed 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Latvia on Friday, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprudus said. Sprudes celebrated on social media that “15 Leopard 2 tanks were delivered to Latvia (…). This is an important step to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and combat capabilities in the region.” “We are closer to the NATO Extended Battle Group in Latvia reaching brigade level,” he added. The Canadian Ambassador to the Baltic country, Brian Szwark, confirmed through the same platform the arrival of the tanks in Latvia “on the eve of Remembrance Day” and stressed that the two countries are working to implement a roadmap “to build NATO’s deterrence presence.” ” in the country bordering Russia and Belarus. Since 2017, Canada has led a multinational NATO force in Latvia with about 1,700 troops, the North American country’s largest mission abroad. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Canada has pledged to bolster its presence On NATO’s eastern flank and sending more troops and equipment to Latvia.To this end, the defense ministers of the two NATO countries signed an agreement in July detailing a roadmap for the deployment of a NATO brigade.