Sweden’s Prime Minister announces NATO troop deployment to Latvia next year

• Sweden to contribute a reduced battalion to NATO forces in Latvia next year.
• This marks the first troop contribution announced since joining NATO in March.
• The battalion, expected to comprise around 400 to 500 troops, will be in Latvia for six months.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday that Sweden will contribute a reduced battalion to NATO forces in Latvia next year to assist the Baltic state following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This marks the first troop contribution announced since the Scandinavian country joined NATO in March.

In January, Kristersson announced that Sweden would likely send a battalion to participate in NATO’s permanent multinational mission in Latvia, dubbed the Enhanced Forward Presence, aimed at boosting defense capacity in the region.

“The government this morning gave Sweden’s armed forces the formal task of planning and preparing for the Swedish contribution of a reduced mechanized battalion to NATO’s forward land forces in Latvia,” Kristersson told reporters during a press conference with his Latvian counterpart Evika Silina.

He stated that the battalion, which will be in Latvia for six months, would comprise around 400 to 500 troops.

“Our aim is a force contribution, including CV 90s armored vehicles and Leopard 2 main battle tanks.”

“We’re planning for the deployment early next year after a parliament decision,” he said.

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