This week Prince Joachim of Denmark made a military visit to Latvia focused on defence sector.
Prince Joachim of Denmark began his visit in Latvia with a meeting with Lt Gen Leonīds Kalniņš, the Chief of Defence of Latvia, focused on regional security challenges and bilateral defence cooperation between Latvia and Denmark.
“Visit of Prince Joachim of Denmark is a big day for Latvian army. Danish armed forces had actively contributed to enhancement and strengthening of combat capabilities of National Armed Forces and National Guard since the very first days of restored Latvia. We appreciate Denmark's initiative to establish NATO multinational division headquarters North in Latvia, which will significantly improve national, as well as regional and international security,” underlined Lt Gen Leonīds Kalniņš while praising the long, pragmatic cooperation and the visit of Prince Joachim of Denmark.
While in Latvia, Prince Joachim of Denmark also visited Ādaži military base where he met with Col Ilmārs Atis Lejiņš, Commander of Land Force Mechanized Infantry Brigade, and Danish military liaison personnel, as well as got acquainted with camp infrastructure. Prince Joachim's visit also included memorial candle lighting ceremony honouring soldiers who had given their lives in international missions.
Prince Joachim of Denmark continued the visit to Latvia by meeting with the director of NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Jānis Sārts in the premises of the Centre.
As reported, following the agreement between Denmark, Latvia and Estonia, Ādaži base will host NATO Multinational Division North headquarters, which will be responsible for defence planning and activities in the Baltic region.
With aim of promoting interoperability and joint defence activities of participating countries, the Multinational Division Headquarters North will be responsible for defence, military exercise and mission planning and implementation. The newly-formed headquarters of Multinational Division Headquarters North will fully comply with NATO operational analysis standards and be integrated into common NATO command structure. It will be tasked with defence coordination in the Baltic region.
Headquarters of Multinational Division Headquarters North will be efficient and combat-capable command unit, which will ensure joint command over division-size units, including units of the headquarters' framework and other allied nations, and NATO's enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups currently deployed in the Baltic States. Division headquarters will be staffed with military personnel from all the framework countries - Denmark, Latvia and Estonia. Headquarters are open for other countries willing to join the framework.
Latvia is contributing military officers and administrative personnel to the headquarters, as well as the necessary infrastructure at the Camp Ādaži.
Establishment of Division headquarters in Latvia is a clear political signal from NATO Allies. It not only shows that allies are ready to enhance support for European security, but also confirms their commitment to get more engaged in reinforcing collective defence and provide more efficient military response as part of its long-term aspirations for greater readiness and capacity of NATO Member States to defend themselves.
Denmark is one of the key defence partners of Latvia. Denmark has provided Latvia crucial support in development of defence systems and national armed forces. Joint exercise of Danish and Latvian troops with other allied nations enhances compatibility of military capabilities and improves interoperability with forces of other NATO nations during international missions.
Latvian troops finalised full integration with Danish units in 2016, when Latvia joined the international coalition's combined joint task force operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq security force training against Daesh terrorists.
Latvia and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding integration of Latvian Land Force Infantry Brigade into the Danish division on 12 April 2013. Division consists of two Danish brigades and two brigades from Lithuania and Estonia, one each.