Silver Arrow' exercise in which the Latvian Multinational Battle Group has participated comes to an end

•  The 'Silver Arrow' is part of the Latvian Army exercise 'NAMEJS 24' which started on September 3 and will end on October 8

The NATO Multinational Battle Group deployed at the Adazi military base has completed the “Silver Arrow” exercise, part of the Latvian exercise “NAMEJS 24”.

NAMEJS 2024' is the main exercise conducted by the Latvian Army. It started on September 3 and will run until October 8. It involves the Latvian Army, the National Guard, Civil Protection personnel, health personnel, police and all institutions that contribute to Latvia's national defense capabilities.

During the exercise 'Silver Arrow' NATO has carried out the evaluation of the Multinational Battle Group. The procedures of the different units have been evaluated with the aim of achieving NATO certification as a combat ready unit.

In order to carry out the evaluation, soldiers from the different nations that make up the Battle Group have travelled to Latvia to participate as Observer-Controller-Trainer (OCT). Among them, several members of the Spanish Brigade 'Guzmán el Bueno' X, a unit that will take over from the Brigade 'Extremadura' XI, currently deployed in Latvia.

The exercise involved the participation of personnel from all the member nations of the Battle Group: Canada, Italy, Poland, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Spain. The Battle Group from Denmark acted as an opposing force.

This was the last exercise that the NATO Multinational Battle Group conducted as part of the Latvian Mechanized Brigade, as next month the Battle Group will become part of the Multinational Brigade, commanded by Canadian Colonel Céderic Aspirault.

NATO's Forward Presence

NATO's military presence on the Alliance's eastern flank is a key element of its enhanced deterrence and defence commitment, which has increased in recent years to reflect the new security reality in the Euro-Atlantic area. The Allied Forward Force Presence is defensive, proportionate, transparent and, ultimately, in line with the Alliance's international commitments and obligations.

NATO's Forward Presence comprises eight multinational battlegroups, contributed by framework nations and other contributing Allies on a voluntary, rotational basis.