More than 800 Danish soldiers arrive in Latvia

More than 800 Danish soldiers and hundreds of vehicles have arrived at Camp Valdemar, a Danish camp in Latvia, as part of NATO’s joint defence of the Baltic states, DR reported on Wednesday.

The soldiers will now prepare their equipment, settle into the camp and familiarise themselves with the area, said Lieutenant Colonel Karina Wøbbe, commander of the Danish combat battalion, in a press release.

Most of the soldiers travelled to Latvia by air, while their vehicles and military equipment were shipped there. The vehicles and equipment were loaded onto a transport ship in Denmark last week.

The ship was escorted to Latvia by the Danish frigate Esbern Snare. The Swedish corvette Nyköping and a British maritime patrol aircraft also took part.

Danish Defence said the operation was intended to demonstrate unity and a shared commitment among Denmark and its NATO allies during the journey to Latvia. The equipment will form part of Denmark’s contribution to defending NATO’s eastern flank.

Danish battalion joins Canadian-led brigade

The Danish combat battalion will join the Canadian-led NATO brigade in Latvia. The brigade is part of Multinational Division North, which is led by a Danish major general and headquartered in Latvia.

The Danish soldiers will take part in training and exercises with troops from other NATO countries. According to Danish Defence, the activities are intended to demonstrate a presence, train in Latvian terrain and deter potential adversaries from attacking NATO allies.

The deployment is also intended to deter Russia and, if necessary, defend Latvia against an attack. It is the fifth time since 2022 that Denmark has sent a combat battalion with support units to Latvia as part of NATO’s readiness efforts.

The current contingent will remain part of the NATO mission until January 2027.