Over 3,000 NATO troops begin exercise Silver Arrow in Latvia.

Over 3,000 troops and 200 vehicles from 12 NATO Allies¹ are taking part in exercise Silver Arrow in Latvia this week. The multinational exercise, which wraps up on 3 October, provides an opportunity for forces to enhance their readiness, and train with one of four NATO battlegroups in the region.

NATO soldiers operating during exercise Silver Arrow 2019 in Latvia (Picture source: NATO)

NATO’s battlegroup in Latvia is composed of around 1,000 troops from Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Exercise Silver Arrow is designed to test the battlegroup’s ability to plan and conduct operations with the Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

This week, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers – specialized soldiers who guide fighter aircraft to targets on the ground - from Canada, Italy, Latvia, Slovenia and Spain conducted air-to-ground training at Camp Ādaži. Two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft will also support the exercise, conducting air-to-ground support missions.

NATO deployed four multinational battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in 2017. These battlegroups, led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States respectively, are multinational, and combat-ready. Their presence makes clear that an attack on one Ally will be considered an attack on the whole Alliance. NATO’s battlegroups form part of the biggest reinforcement of the Alliance‘s collective defense in a generation.

1) Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain