Hundreds of Swedish troops arrived in Latvia in the largest deployment with NATO to date

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Hundreds of Swedish soldiers arrived in Latvia on Saturday to join a multinational group led by Canada on NATO’s eastern flank, an operation Sweden is calling its most important operation to date as a member of the Western defense alliance.

A ship carrying parts of a mobile military force arrived early Saturday in the port of Riga, the capital of Latvia, accompanied by the Swedish military and units of the Swedish and Latvian military, the Swedish military said in a statement.

Latvia borders Russia to the east and Russia is bordered by Belarus to its southeast. Tensions are high across Central Europe because of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Swedish military said the operation of 550 soldiers will contribute to the alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, and ensure stability in the region, and that it “marks Sweden’s biggest commitment since joining NATO” last year.

Police commander Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl of the 71st Battalion said he felt very proud to be participating in the defense of the alliance.

“It’s a historic day, but at the same time, it’s our new day,” he said.

The Swedish army joins one of eight NATO forces on the eastern side of the alliance. The army is stationed outside the town of Adazi, near Riga.

Sweden officially joined NATO in March as the 32nd member of the Atlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of superpower apathy as security concerns in Europe increase following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Finland has also abandoned its long-standing military neutrality to join NATO in April 2023.