US artillery units to be permanently deployed in Latvia

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia said the US has approved plans to strengthen its military presence in the Baltic states.

The decision suggests that American soldiers and military equipment will be relocated to Latvia on a "heel-to-toe, rotational basis", RBC-Ukraine reports with reference to the website of the Latvian Ministry of Defence.

In the coming years, the United States will ensure rotational units at both military bases in Adazi and Lielvarde, which will contribute significantly to deterrence and defence, as well as improve interoperability between the Latvian and American Armed Forces, the defence ministry said.

Initially, the US military plans to deploy artillery and aviation units to Latvia, in line with the needs of Latvian National Armed Forces defence capabilities.

“When our transatlantic partners talk about Baltic states' defense, they do not joke around. The US government understands that deterrence is based on strong presence and cooperation. Our allies have always supported the independence of the Baltic States, and today, when assessing geopolitical risks, persuasively demonstrate that they will continue to do so,” said Defence Minister Artis Pabriks. 

The minister added that the talks at the NATO summit in Madrid as well as individual meetings with Lloyd Austin, head of the US Pentagon, were fruitful.

Recall that in June, at the North Atlantic Alliance summit in Madrid, US President Joe Biden pledged to increase the rotational deployment and permanent presence of US troops in the Baltic region.