NATO increases military activities near Russian border
The active phase of NATO's Resolute Warrior multinational brigade exercise in Latvia has begun, including increased movement of military equipment along border lines.
The active phase of NATO's Resolute Warrior multinational brigade exercise has begun in Latvia, RT reported on November 3. This training phase includes increased movement of allied military equipment, including along the border with Russia. The movement of troops will be supported by the Military Police, the State Police or the National Armed Forces Movement Coordination Center.
Earlier, the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia confirmed the start of the exercise on social media.
"The RESOLUTE WARRIOR exercise begins! We will operate dispersedly across Latvia's forests and cities. This demonstrates the ability to deploy nationwide and cooperate with the Latvian Air Force," the statement said.
NATO describes Resolute Warrior as an exercise aimed at "enhancing the alliance's defense capabilities on its eastern flank".
"Resolute Warrior is an annual NATO-mandated brigade-level exercise designed to enhance the alliance's defense capabilities on its eastern flank and test the combat capabilities of the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia," the military alliance said.
NATO said this was the "first major field exercise" of the Multinational Brigade in Latvia since its establishment.
The NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia, to be established in July 2024, is "an example of a major modernization of NATO forces in the Baltic states," the alliance said in a statement.
The brigade includes units from 13 countries. These countries, in addition to Latvia, include Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Albania, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
In addition to Resolute Warrior, Latvia will host other NATO exercises this fall. Namejs 2025, in particular, will involve more than 12,000 service members from NATO countries. The exercises, which will take place from September 2 to October 8 across the country, are designed to “enhance regional defense capabilities and interoperability.” The exercise is also intended to “demonstrate NATO unity and readiness in the Baltic region,” the military alliance explained.
Bloomberg also reported on military exercises in Latvia, which took place near the Russian border, which it said "became the largest British military presence in the country since the early 1990s."
In addition to the British and Latvian armies, Canadian forces also participated in the exercise. According to Bloomberg, in the rugged terrain of Latvia, the British army tested new combat technologies and sought to integrate "technical and tactical experts" into the weapons development process in the most effective way.
“From a makeshift command post at an abandoned Soviet airfield on NATO’s eastern flank, the British army is using a dedicated network to communicate with drones, robots and artillery in the hope that the technology will transform the battlefield,” the article said.
“NATO is looking at how to allocate limited resources across a new and longer border,” Brigadier General Matt Lewis, commander of the 11th Brigade, told Bloomberg at a command post in Latvia.