The Latvian Ministry of Defense has opened a new military center in Ādaži to support the NATO Multinational Brigade cooperation.
The 7-million-euro ($7.7-million) facility 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the capital incorporates armored vehicle storage and sustainment facilities to house allied tanks and other platforms.
It also includes a warehouse, personnel shelters, a specialized security perimeter, and concrete roadways.
The site was developed through co-funding between the Canadian and Spanish governments to reinforce collective allied defense across Central and Eastern Europe.
It follows the launch of the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia to a brigade level last July, which will employ over 3,500 troops in response to the ongoing conflict on NATO’s eastern flank.
By November 2024, the Multinational Brigade will facilitate its first training exercise with a higher command structure.
This international team is expected to achieve full combat readiness in 2026.
“Investments in the development of the Military Base “Ādaži” demonstrate Canadian, Spanish and NATO’s long-term commitment to Euro-Atlantic security,” the Latvian defense agency wrote.
“This infrastructure will allow Allies who contribute to the Canadian led Multinational Brigade the opportunity to bring more equipment and personnel into Latvia as the Brigade develops its combat capability.”
Recent Defense Projects in Latvia
The Latvian Armed Forces accepted its first locally manufactured Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier in August as part of a 200-vehicle fleet program signed in 2021.
A month earlier, Riga approved a $331-million initiative to bolster its border capabilities as part of the “Baltic Defence Line” strategy to deter potential threats from neighboring nations.
In 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initially revealed that Ottawa will increase its military presence for the eFP expansion in Latvia. This was followed by a $202.6-million investment in new air defense systems for the European nation.
Currently, about 1,900 Canadian Armed Forces service members are deployed for the effort. The country plans to increase the number of troops to 2,200 by 2026.
Latvia then partnered with Estonia to produce up to 3,000 military vehicles and new air defense capabilities to improve Baltic security.
In 2022, Spain sent 100 troops and corresponding surface-to-air missiles to the Latvian eFP, increasing Madrid’s warfighter contribution to more than 600.