Denmark to send 800 troops to Latvia

Although the decision still needs to be formally approved by the Danish parliament, according to Denmark's Ministry of Defense, the arriving combat battalion is expected to replace other units re-deploying from Latvia and so will maintain the alliance's overall defensive position in Latvia. Denmark has already been contributing to the troop presence in neighboring Estonia for several years. 

The fresh Danish battalion will be in place at Camp Ādaži in May and will include a main force of combat soldiers from the Gardehus Regiment (Slagelse) consisting of an armored infantry company, a mechanized infantry company and a staff company with various special functions such as scouts and snipers, as well as a fire support capability, a communications unit, a number of different support troops who handle supply and transport services, a military police contribution, a national logistical support element, an intelligence element, a detachment for information operations, and munitions clearers.

The heads of government of Latvia and Denmark also discussed economic co-operation between the two countries, including the reduction of energy dependence on fossil energy resources of Russian origin. The Latvian Prime Minister pointed out the common interests of Latvia and Denmark, as Latvia is interested in the development of wind farms, while Danish companies have extensive expertise in the development of wind energy capacity.

The Prime Ministers also visited Ādaži military base today.