Denmark's decision to send battalion will be significant contribution to Baltic defense and security - Murniece

  • 2023-05-04
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Denmark's decision to deploy a NATO battalion to Latvia from mid-2024 will be a significant contribution to the Baltic states' defense and security and will generally strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities, Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece (National Alliance) indicated. 

From mid-2024, Denmark will send a battalion of the Royal Danish Army's soldiers, demonstrating Denmark's resolve to continue to contribute to the defense of NATO's eastern flank. 

Denmark will send a battalion of 700 to 1,200 troops who will spend four to six months in Latvia and the rest of the year on standby in Denmark. The makeup and size of the battalion, as well as the length of its rotation will depend on the needs of NATO and allied countries, as well as the security situation in the region. 

The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) will provide host nation support by accommodating the Danish troops at the Adazi base which in the past has already hosted Danish soldiers who were deployed there in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

As reported, responded to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the Danish parliament approved the government's proposal to send up to 1,000 Danish troops to Latvia. These soldiers arrived in Latvia on April 26, 2022 and left on April 27, 2023, completing their rotation in the mechanized infantry brigade of the NAF Land Forces. 

 Danish troops have been deployed in the NATO Multinational Division North in Adazi. 

Denmark has played a significant role in development of the Latvian Armed Forces and it has been one of the leading Nordic countries in political support and practical assistance to Latvia.