For the first time in the alliance's history, NATO is activating its Eastern Europe defense plans, and on Friday NATO plans to hold a virtual summit to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Alliance secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
"Work is now underway to prepare units and the command structure, so that NATO is ready to respond if the situation escalates. This is about preparing for a redeployment and response in accordance with the threat level," Garisons said.
Garisons said that even before the NATO decision, the United States, Canada and Italy had agreed to send additional forces to Latvia. Yesterday, the first of the 300 planned US soldiers arrived in Latvia and the arrival of the entire unit will be completed by the end of the day.
US troops are stationed at the Ādaži base in addition to the Allied forces that have arrived for the international military exercise Saber Strike 22 led by the US Army Forces Command in Europe until March 23 in the territory of Latvia.
