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Latvia

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Capital: Riga
Area: 64,589 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Population (July 2011 estimate): 2,204,708
Official language: Latvian
State Partner: Michigan
International Organizations and Agreements: United Nations, European Council, European Union, Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation Organization, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), World Trade Organization

Latvia's defense concept is based upon four basic pillars: collective defense as a member of NATO, professionalization of the armed forces, support and coordination with civil society, and international military cooperation. The regular forces are composed of the land forces, an air force focused on air surveillance and search and rescue, and naval forces focused on coastal surveillance, assertion of sovereignty, mine countermeasures, search and rescue, and environmental protection.

Latvia has emerged as a significant international player, supporting peace and democracy world wide. Per capita, it is one of the largest contributors to international military operations. It has deployed troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, and the Balkans. It also works closely with the U.S. and the EU to support and promote democracy in the former Soviet Union states of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia. The Latvian military participates in Exercise Sabre Strike, Exercise Baltic Host, Baltic Operations, Joint Staff Talks and various other engagements with the U.S. There is an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement in place with Latvia.

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  • June 22, 2012

    Exercise Saber Strike 2012 comes to a close

    After two weeks of intense training, about 2000 troops from eight nations begin to pack up and head home from five locations spread across Estonia and Latvia as exercise Saber Strike 2012 comes to an official close following ceremonies in Tapa, Estonia, and Adazi, Latvia. The troops will leave having made new friends, learned new techniques, and developed the confidence that they will be able to better operate together in upcoming deployments to Afghanistan.
  • June 21, 2012

    Exercise Saber Strike 2012 “END EX”

    Months of planning, coordination and hard work draws to a successful conclusion as participants of the command post exercise portion of Saber Strike 2012 conclude the simulated combat operations.
  • June 21, 2012

    Dismounted mortarmen refresh infantry skills

    Marine mortarmen of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment were tasked to conduct a dismounted patrol during a training exercise at Saber Strike 2012.
  • June 21, 2012

    Latvian Prime Minister Praises National Guard Relationship

    Praising the relationship between his nation and the United States, the prime minister of Latvia observed an aerial refueling operation aboard a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker over the noontime skies of his nation, June 17.
  • June 15, 2012

    21st TSC provides support to warfighters during multinational exercise

    The 21st Theater Sustainment Command deployed much of its 21st Special Troops Battalion and several other subordinate units to Camp Adazi, Latvia to run the mayor cell for Saber Strike 2012.
  • June 15, 2012

    Exercise Saber strike completes situational training exercise lanes, moves to field training exercise

    A squad of Latvian Army soldiers lays down small arms fire, while a US Stryker from the Pennsylvania National Guard works into position, over-watched by Soldiers from the 31 Canadian Brigade Group, and supported by mortar fire from the Unites States Marine Corps’ 4th Marine Division and A10s from the Michigan Air National Guard.
  • June 11, 2012

    International Distinguished Visitors Attend BALTOPS 2012 Training Scenario

    Maritime forces participating in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2012, the largest multinational maritime exercise this year in the Baltic Sea, demonstrated a land, sea and air amphibious operation for international distinguished visitors here, June 11.
  • June 10, 2012

    Exercise Saber Strike 2012 officially kicks off

    Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from 8 different nations came together to officially signify the kickoff of Exercise Saber Strike 2012 during a ceremony held on the parade grounds here June 10.
  • June 4, 2012

    Exercise Saber Strike 2012 demonstrates international cooperation in action

    Saber Strike is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multi-national exercise scheduled for June 10- 22 at multiple training areas in Estonia and Latvia. The exercise promotes regional stability and security, strengthens international military partnering and fosters trust while improving interoperability between participating nations.
  • June 2, 2012

    BALTOPS Kicks Off 40th Year

    Maritime forces from 12 countries are participating in the 40th annual multinational, naval exercise in the Baltic Sea June 1-16.

Blog Posts RSS

  • October 19, 2012

    Up North

    Just back from Sweden and Finland -- not NATO allies, but certainly premier partners both. I visited both in my hat as Commander of US European Command.
  • May 16, 2012

    Smart Civic Engagement in Latvia

    On Monday, Judy Garber, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia; members of the U.S. Embassy in Riga and EUCOM; the Latvian Ministry of Interior (State Fire and Rescue Service) and National Guard members; and local government officials broke ground on a EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance project modernizing eight fire and rescue stations in Latvia.
  • March 13, 2012

    First-Ever Regional Cyber Endeavor Seminar Held in Montenegro

    I spent last week in the warm and hospitable city of Podgorica, Montenegro, with a EUCOM team executing the first-ever regional Cyber Endeavor event.
  • November 17, 2011

    Humanitarian Assistance for Latvian Fire and Rescue

    Since fall 2008 US Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC Latvia) and State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (SFRS) have identified and submitted 10 Civic Engagement (Humanitarian Assistance) projects for renovations of fire stations all over Latvia.
  • May 31, 2011

    Effective Partnering for Cyber Security

    A little over a week ago, at the request of EUCOM, the U.S. Embassy in Riga and the Latvian government, a small group of cyber security experts donated their time and expertise to conduct a strategic assessment of Latvia’s cyber security infrastructure.
  • April 7, 2011

    The Power of Partnering in the Baltics

    In early March, we teamed up with Project Hope, a non-profit medical service organization, to work with us and our Baltic allies in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on some of the most relevant, important issues facing all of our forces.
  • March 16, 2011

    Day 2: Nothing says spring like fresh flowers.

    While visiting Lithuania the Wounded Warrior team and the two physicians from Project Hope drove out to Vilnius University Emergency Hospital (VUEH) located 15 minutes west of the capital, Vilnius. The day’s mission was to deliver medical lectures about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the staff at a local hospital there.
  • March 15, 2011

    Exploring Wounded Warrior issues in partner nations

    Wounded Warrior, Veteran care, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. All are powerful terms capable of eliciting intense emotions from military service members and civilians alike. For the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia supporting International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan it is a term they are becoming more familiar with.
  • January 31, 2011

    Local Procurement in Latvia Strengthens Northern Distribution Network

    The United States European Command (USEUCOM) plays an important role supplying the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
  • January 24, 2011

    HA Works When They Want it as Much as We Do!

    What makes a Humanitarian Assistance (HA) project a success? There are many factors that impact the process; it is no longer just a triangular relationship between the project scope, available funding and allocated time.

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  • June 27, 2012

    Saber Strike 12 wraps up

    As Saber Strike 12 draws to a close, SFC Adam Shaw takes a moment to reflect on what the exercise means for the participating militaries, the troops, and the world.
  • June 27, 2012

    Cavalry troops train to be ready for any situation

    From the vehicle to the ground, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment trains for it all. SGT Carl Greenwell tells us a little about what they were training on at Exercise Saber Strike 12.
  • June 15, 2012

    Marines share tactics with international partners

    Marines are never ones to shy away from combat. SSgt Alex Farver introduces us to a group of Marines sharing more than their tactics with international partners.
  • June 15, 2012

    A lesson in urban combat

    Canadian troops participating at Saber Strike 2012 kicked off the exercise with some intense urban combat training. SSgt Alex Farver gets us in on the action.
  • June 15, 2012

    Saber Strike 2012

    Service members from all over the world have gathered for Saber Strike 2012 in Latvia. SSgt Alex Farver has coverage from the opening ceremony.
  • August 5, 2010

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers help Latvian rescue station part 1

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe district, helps the Latvian Fire and Rescue Services by providing much needed renovations to their station. (Part 2)
  • August 5, 2010

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers help Latvian rescue station part 1

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe district, helps the Latvian Fire and Rescue Services by providing much needed renovations to their station. (Part 1)
  • August 3, 2010

    Latvia Long AVI

    EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance projects in Latvia
  • March 5, 2010

    Latvian Army and US National Guard train in Germany

    One of the ways the U.S. military is building the Afghan Army is through Observer Mentor Liaison Teams, or OMLETS. At the Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany, the Latvian Army and the Michigan National Guard are training together and building bonds.