In a few months, Canada will take the lead in a NATO battle group in Latvia that is meant to send a strong message to Vladimir Putin.

Shortly after the F.B.I. announced its investigation into whether members of Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election, Canada is preparing to take part in its own act of defiance against Russian aggression. 

In a few months, hundreds of Canadian troops will join a NATO mission, acting as a deterrent to any potential Russian action in the Baltic region. About 450 Canadians will be headquartered at the Adazi military complex, near the Baltic country’s capital of Riga, in an operation called Enhanced Forward Presence. Canada will lead a battalion of between 1,200 to 1,500 soldiers from Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain in Latvia. About 4,000 troops in all will make up four multinational battle groups in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

The operation marks the first time since the Cold War that Canadian troops will be permanently stationed in Europe, in an assignment that could last years. 

Tensions between the Baltic region and Russia has increased as a result of the Ukraine conflict, which resulted in the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. The operation hopes to send a strong signal to Moscow to not test the resolve of the member nations of NATO and ensure that Russia doesn't overstep its place in the region.

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Ben Makuch takes Vice News Canada into Lithuania, where Germans are gearing up for a NATO mission that Canada will soon join. It's all an effort to  send a signal to Moscow to not test the resolve of the member nations of NATO, including Canada.

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After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO is taking no chances and this mission, dubbed Enhanced Forward Presence, is a warning to Moscow not to overstep its place in the region.

About 4,000 troops hailing from Canada, Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain will make up four military contingents in the Baltics.

The operation marks the first time since the Cold War that Canadian troops will be permanently stationed in Europe, in an assignment that could last years.

VICE News was in Lithuania recently, as German soldiers deployed on their leg of the mission.

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After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO is taking no chances in the region

FYI.

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Sending a message to Putin in the Baltics

FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Sending a message to Putin in the Baltics

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