Swedish troops arrive in Latvia to join Nato's Multinational Brigade for the first time
Hundreds of Swedish troops have joined the Canadian-led Nato Multinational Brigade in Latvia, stationed along Nato's eastern flank.
This marks Sweden's first year participating in the operation, following its accession to Nato less than a year ago.
The country's contribution consists of the 71st Battalion from the South Skåne Regiment – and it's their largest Nato mission to date.
The Nato Multinational Brigade Latvia continues to serve as a cornerstone of Nato's deterrence and collective defence efforts in the Baltic region – it's one of eight Nato brigades stationed along the alliance's eastern border.
The mission of the force is to strengthen the alliance's deterrence and defence posture while ensuring regional stability.
As a mechanised infantry battalion, the unit brings significant capability and firepower to the brigade.
The battalion will be stationed outside the town of Adazi at a camp operated by Denmark but shared semi-annually between Sweden and Denmark.
Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl expressed pride in the deployment, saying: "The battalion has worked hard for this, and now we are finally here.
"I feel a great sense of pride in contributing to the alliance's collective defence.
"It's a historic day, but at the same time, it's our new normal."
Nato Multinational Brigade Latvia Commander Colonel Cédric Aspirault, welcomed the Swedish force, saying: "Their presence is a valued addition to our combat-ready force, enhancing our collective defence efforts and strengthening regional security.
"Every contributing nation directly impacts the success of the brigade, demonstrating a solid alliance and the willpower to protect the peace of our world."
Last year, the brigade consisted of contributions from Albania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Canada.
The establishment and deployment of the Nato Multinational Brigade Latvia aims to demonstrate the participants' solidarity and determination to defend its allies against any form of aggression, strengthen the alliance's deterrence capabilities and enhance regional defence.
In 2024, the Nato Multinational Battlegroup was upgraded to brigade level – the organisational size, structure, and operational capacity of a military unit – resulting in the creation of the Nato Multinational Brigade Latvia.
By 2026, Canada plans to complete the full implementation of persistently deployed brigade capabilities in Latvia.
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