The seventh iteration of the annual Saber Strike drills takes place from June 3 to 15 in Latvia and involves 2,000 troops from Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, Poland and Slovakia as well as the US contingent which will be running the whole thing.
The exercise which covers Poland, Estonia and Lithuania too officially kicked off May 24 and will run until June 24.
Foreign personnel will be arriving via ship and air for the exercises which, according to the Defense Ministry will provide: "Training for enhanced cooperation between allies, preparedness and combat capabilities, freedom of movement throughout the region, as well as allies demonstrating their ability to move forces and respond quickly."
ASV jūras kājnieku tehnika tiek pārvesta uz Ādažiem, gatavojoties mācībām #SaberStrike @AizsardzibasMin @LV_NATO @USEmbassyRiga @MarForRes pic.twitter.com/5AY9jn3K6Q
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) May 29, 2017
Motorists in particular are asked for an understanding attitude if they see military convoys in transit and to follow the instructions of accompanying Military Police and State Police.
Meanwhile residents are being reassured that even though there will be more military aircraft in the skies than usual, they will obey all the rules regarding height, noise and hours of operation.
National Armed Forces have promised to supply updates as appropriate via their twitter account. @Latvijas_armija.
Šodien ASV jūras kājnieku tehnika, kas pagājušajā nedēļā ieradās Ventspilī, tiek pārvietota uz Ādažiem, gatavojoties mācībām #SaberStrike pic.twitter.com/KvJ8qrybSZ
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) May 29, 2017
Meanwhile, the US Army has released a handy fact sheet outlining Saber Strike, which you can read HERE.
"Key training events of Saber Strike 17 will include: a convoy by Battle Group Poland from Orzysz, Poland, to southern Lithuania; a maritime prepositioned offload of pre-staged supplies and equipment in Latvia; a Marine amphibious assault in Latvia; two combined arms live fire exercises (one each in Poland and Lithuania); an air assault by the British Royal Marines at the Polish and Lithuanian border; and a river crossing in the same area," the fact sheet says.
An earlier release revealed a watery theme for this year's training.
In addition, the Defense Ministry confirmed May 29 that the Defense Ministers of all three Baltic states will meet in Daugavpils on June 1 and 2 to discuss regional security and sign a joint communique while inspecting the National Guard's 34th Artillery Battalion.