Hundreds of Swedish soldiers landed in Latvia on Saturday, integrating into a multinational brigade led by Canada along NATO’s eastern border. This operation is being regarded by Sweden as its most substantial involvement since becoming part of the defense alliance.

A vessel transporting components of a mechanized infantry battalion reached Riga, the capital of Latvia, in the early hours of the day. It was accompanied by the Swedish air force and naval forces from both Sweden and Latvia, as stated by the Swedish military.

Latvia shares its eastern border with Russia, and its southeast with Belarus, a Russian ally. Given the context of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, tensions in Central Europe remain elevated.

The Swedish military announced that the contingent of 550 troops aims to bolster NATO’s deterrence and defense efforts, thereby fostering stability in the region. This commitment signifies Sweden’s largest engagement to date since joining NATO in the previous year.

Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl, commander of the 71st Battalion, expressed his pride in aiding the alliance’s collective defense measures. He remarked that while this day is historic, it also signifies a new standard for their operations.

The Swedish forces are now part of one of the eight brigades positioned along NATO’s eastern front. They will be based just outside the town of Adazi, located in proximity to Riga.

Sweden officially became NATO’s 32nd member in March, concluding a long-standing era of post-World War II neutrality and spanning centuries of nonalignment concerning major global powers. This shift in policy was prompted by increased security concerns in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Additionally, Finland also chose to forsake its historical military neutrality to join NATO in April 2023.