Now, four months after the change of troops, NATO is trying to prevent Russia from launching additional attacks and is increasing the number of troops deployed in Eastern Europe. “It’s very different for us, because now we’re close to what ‘s happening,” said Nicolas-Marchal, who is normally stationed at the CFB Valcartier in Quebec but has previously served on NATO missions in Poland and Iraq.
“Whatever happens, it can happen in Ukraine – or in the whole world,” he said. “We can continue to train together and be ready if someone sends us somewhere.” Master Cpl. Josaphat Nicolas-Marchal stands in front of a LAV VI military vehicle at the Adazi base, about 25 km outside Riga, Latvia. (Briar Stewart / CBC)

Canadian body

The colonel is one of about 700 Canadian soldiers stationed at Camp Adazi, a Western Alliance military base and training ground 25 miles[25 km]outside Riga, the capital of Latvia. Canada’s military presence in the country increased last month when an artillery contingent of 120 soldiers and weapons arrived from Quebec. Given the growing security threat, Canada has extended its mission to Latvia indefinitely. The Latvian Ministry of Defense told CBC News that the government hopes to further strengthen the body and develop it as a real “war fighting unit”. But as Latvia seeks to strengthen its defenses, not everyone living near the base is reassured by the growing number of troops – with some fearing it could make the region a bigger target for Russian aggression. When CBC News visited the base Monday, dozens of Canadian soldiers participated in weapons training. In one area, soldiers fired high-powered rifles at nearby targets, trying to simulate battle in an urban setting such as a city street or inside a building. Canada has the largest squad in Latvia, but about 800 other troops from 10 different NATO countries are also stationed there, including troops from the Czech Republic, Spain and Slovakia. “It means a lot to us to be here to contribute to the ongoing situation in Ukraine,” said Major An Pham, commander of the newly developed Phoenix battle group in Latvia. Major Anne Pham, commander of the Phoenix battery in Latvia, says the number of trainings has increased because there are extra troops on the ground. (Corinne Seminoff / CBC)
Last month, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pampriks met with his Canadian counterpart, Defense Minister Anita Anand, in Ottawa to discuss security and bilateral co-operation. The meeting took place a few weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trinto toured the Latvian base, where he officially announced that Canada was expanding its contribution to the mission beyond 2023, when it expired. SEE: Canada renews Operation Reassurance in Latvia:

Canada renews NATO Operation Reassurance mission

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the renewal of Operation Reassurance a year before its scheduled completion during a visit to Latvia. 1:11
NATO has four multinational battle groups deployed throughout Eastern Europe and more recently was announced that forces will be deployed in four more countries – Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania – to try to prevent the war from spreading to Ukraine’s neighbors.

The concerns of the residents

In the municipality of Adazi, a community of 12,000 people bordering the base, those who live there can sometimes hear artillery fire during internships. Residents who spoke to CBC News near the city center gave differing views on the forthcoming NATO mission. Some feared that additional troops could provoke Russia. “If NATO is going to get involved, we have no idea what will happen to us here,” said Adazi resident Ligita Voitkane. “It’s not just the base that will suffer, our whole small town here as well.” CLOCKS Some in Latvia fear that the country could be dragged into a bigger war:

Canadian troops are being trained to fight in Latvia amid a Russian threat

Hundreds of Canadian troops deployed in Latvia are preparing to defend NATO territory for fear that Russia could attack the Baltic states. Not everyone is convinced that their presence will deter Russian forces, pointing to Latvia’s unprotected border. 2:08
Ksenija Gontiare, a mother pushing her nine-month-old into a stroller, also said the NATO presence made her worried. He has relatives in Kyiv, but said he remains concerned about the billions of dollars in weapons being sent by NATO countries to Ukraine, as he worries it could lead to an escalation of violence. On Tuesday, a Kremlin-backed media outlet quoted Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, as saying that the European Union had become a “NATO offensive war machine”. However, Victoria Zelca, an Adazi resident, believes Russia may decide to invade Latvia – and said she was comforted to know that the base was close. “We are a neighboring country and we can be involved in the war,” he said. “They want land; there is the Baltic Sea, which they could use for transportation and deliveries.” Canada is leading a NATO mission in Latvia, where Tim Hortons maple coffee and maple syrup are stored at a local store. (Corinne Seminoff / CBC)