Over 140 U.S. soldiers arrive in Latvia

Over 140 U.S. soldiers arrive in Latvia
  • By defencematters

As the international military exercise ”Atlantic Resolve” continues, over 140 U.S. soldiers have arrived at the Adazi military base

As the international military exercise ''Atlantic Resolve'' continues, over 140 U.S. soldiers have arrived at the Adazi military base, according to information published in the Defense Ministry's military news portal ''sargs.lv''.This is the next rotation of U.S. troops which will be stationed in Latvia for the next three months and participating in training exercises together with soldiers from the National Armed Forces.

The soldiers from the U.S. Third Infantry Division from the state of Georgia, as well as from the 173rd Infantry Brigade in Italy will replace soldiers from the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which have stationed in Latvia for the past three months. As reported, the United States has deployed hundreds of troops for the three-month exercise "Atlantic Resolve" in the Baltic countries.

"Atlantic Resolve" will see NATO forces working alongside their allies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said vehicles, helicopters and heavy equipment arrived in the Latvian capital Riga and that the exercises would last 90 days.

Warren said the deployed unit was a "Brigade Combat Team" - around 3,000 frontline soldiers.According to a U.S. military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, the equipment would remain behind in the region after the troops of the Third Infantry Division return to base.

Earlier, in Riga, U.S. General John O'Connor told AFP the deployment would "demonstrate resolve to President [Vladimir] Putin and Russia that collectively we can come together." The delivery includes "Abrams" tanks and "Bradley" fighting vehicles as well as support equipment, and O'Connor said the armor would stay "for as long as required to deter Russian aggression."

(Photo shows members of the 3rd Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) fast rope down the Latvian search and rescue helicopter while the Latvian army observe during Exercise Summer Shield XII in Adazi, Latvia on March 27, 2015. Photo Source: Land Task Element, DND)

Published: 01.04.2015 by Gatis Kristovskis, LETA