NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP)

Fully deployed in June 2017, NATO’s enhanced forward presence comprises multinational forces provided by framework nations and other contributing Allies on a voluntary, fully sustainable and rotational basis. They are based on four rotational battalion-size battle groups that operate in concert with national home defence forces and are present at all times in the host countries.

Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States are the framework nations for the robust multinational presence in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland respectively.

The eFP mission aims to maintain deterrence against any aggression against our Baltic Allies through a defensive deployment and is in line with the Alliance's commitment to assist Allied countries.

The NATO Battle Group in the eFP mission deployed in Latvia ensures a credible and effective deterrent against any threat to our Baltic Ally, being ready to act in Latvia's defence if necessary, and demonstrating the strong commitment to the Alliance of the countries that make up the Alliance and its multinational character.

The Spanish contribution to NATO´s Battle Group in Latvia is visible in the troops that make up a Mechanised Tactical Subgroup, a Sappers Unit, different posts within the Battle Group´s Headquarter Command and the Latvian Brigade, as well as a national support element, which includes the Logistical Unit. Spain has roughly 600 troops deployed in Latvia. Due to the situation created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Spain has decided to reinforce the contingent currently deployed in Latvia with an additional deploy of 250 servicemen.

The main resources provided by Spain are the “Leopardo 2E” battle tanks and the “Pizzaro” infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and a Anti-Aircraft Defence Unit (UDAA) NASAMS. This is the first time that our country has deployed this type of resource in a foreign mission. With the new military build-up, the additional capabilities contributed by our country will be a Field Artillery Unit, an Engineer Unit (Sappers and Support), and logistical support elements.

Moreover, other mechanized resources are also provided, such as the M-113 armoured personnel carrier, heavy mortars, engineering vehicle (VCZ) and the anti-tank guided missile Spike. It must also be pointed out the contribution of units that substantially improve fighting capacity of the Tactical Subgroup, such as the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTCA) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named “Raven”.

2023

• June 27th. The contingent is relieved. eFP XIII takes over the mission.
• January 13th. Handover/Takeover (HOTO) of the Spanish contingent take place. eFP XII strarts its mission.

2022

• July 20th. Handover/Takeover (HOTO) of the Spanish contingent take place. eFP XI strarts its mission.
• March 8th. Spain´s Prime Minister visits Spanish troops deployed to Lavia.
• January 17th. Handover/Takeover (HOTO) of the Spanish contingent take place. Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Fuentesal García is the commander of the eFP X.

2021

• October 11th to 23rd. A Spanish tactical subgroup take part in 'Iron Wolf' in Lithuania.
• September 20th to 27th  A Spanish sapper platoon teake part in exercise 'Eager Leopard' in Lithuania.
• September 6th to 16th. Spanish troops integrated within the 'letonia' Battlegroup take part in exercise 'Silver Arrow'.
• July 14th. The XI 'Extremadura' Brigade (eFP IX) took over from the I 'Aragón' Brigade.
• July 8th. Spain's Prime Minister visits Spanish troops deployed in Latvia. 
• June 10th. ESP CHOD visits Spanish troops deployed in Latvia. 
• June 9th. eFP 'Latvia' Multinational Battalion concludes live fire exercise 'Crossbow'.  
• May 31st. eFP Multinational Battalion concludes exercise 'Summer Shield'.
• April 9th. The minister for Foreign Affairs visits Spanish troops deployed in Latvia. 
• March 8th. Spanish troops take part in exercise 'Wolverine Strike' to test the defence capabilities of the multinational Battalion.
• March 1st. Excercise 'ALERTEX' is conducted to test the multinational battalion's response capabilities to an aggression on Latvia.
• February 15th-19th Spanish troops deployed in Latvia take part in exercise 'Wolverine Forger'.
• January 14th. The seventh rotation made up from Brigade  ‘Aragón’ I (eFP VIII) begins its tour of duty. The head of the Spanish contingent is LtCol. Luis María Galvache Rodríguez. 

2020

• July 14th. Sixth handover/takeover (HOTO) in Adazi. 12th Brigade ‘Guadarrama’ (eFP VII) starts its mission.      
• January 16th: Fifth HOTO of the Spanish contingent takes place. 10th Brigade ‘Guzman el Bueno’ starts its mission. The commander is Lieutenant Colonel Emilio Hermoso Orzáez.

2019

• July 12th. HOTO of the Spanish contingent is conducted. It is the second time that the 11^th Brigade ‘Extremadura’ is deployed in Latvia. Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Ávila Muñoz is the commander of the deployment.
• January 15th.Relief of Spanish contingent takes place. Lieutenant Coronel Luis Manuel Benéitez Martínez commands eFP IV, composed of personnel from the I Brigade “Aragón” and from the 41st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish).

2018

• August 20th. The Battle Group takes part in the 18th Latvian Armed Forces military exercise NAMEJS.
• July 18th.HOTO between Spanish contingents takes place. eFP III is composed of personnel from the 12^th Brigade ‘Guadarrama’, from the 21^st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish), from the Field Artillery Command and from the 21st Signals Regiment.
• January 15th.HOTO between Spanish contingents is performed. eFP II is composed of personnel from the 10th Brigade ‘Guzman el Bueno’ and from the 41st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish).

2017

• November 19th. The Spanish contingent deployed at Adazi participates in the parade that commemorates the Latvian National Holiday.
• June 19th: a ceremony establishing the Battle Group in Latvia is held.

2016

• July 9th. During the Warsaw Summit, countries of the Alliance agree to establish Enhanced Forward Presence of defensive and dissuasive nature and with a multinational character, in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

2004

• March 29th. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania join the Atlantic Alliance.