The Spanish contingent carries out the transfer of authority in Latvia

• The Spanish military of the new contingent begin their mission in Latvia to continue with the contribution of our Armed Forces to the NATO mission

The Spanish contingent deployed in Latvia has carried out the transfer of authority ceremony at the Adazi base after having executed the handover of assets and responsibility. The official ceremony was presided over by the Spanish Ambassador to Latvia, Susana Cámara Angulo, and Colonel Álvaro de Zunzunegui y Ruano, Head of J9 within the Spanish Operations Command.

During the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Fuentesal García, head of the incoming contingent, received the Spanish contingent's pennant, officially taking charge of the mission in Latvia. In addition, the Latvian brigade presented various awards to the Spanish contingent personnel for their outstanding work over the last six months. Restrictions due to the health pandemic meant that the event had to be reduced in order to maintain the security measures in place.

The incoming contingent, eFP X, comes mostly from the "Guzmán el Bueno" X Brigade (Córdoba), although the 11th Logistical Support Group (Madrid) and the 21st Transmissions Regiment (Valencia), among others, contribute significantly. The bulk of these personnel will form part of the Battle Group deployed in Latvia in support of the multinational mission of a defensive nature, under the national operational control of the Operations Command.

The enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission is aimed at deterring any threat against the Baltic countries, members of NATO, demonstrating Spain's firm commitment to its allies and to international peace and security.