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There they will be joined by troops from Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain.

Another three multinational battle groups with troops from most NATO nations are being stationed in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland to act as a NATO deterrence against Russian aggression in the region.

While NATO has repeatedly said its presence is reassurance for countries in that region, Russia has depicted it as an aggressive measure that “gravely increases the risk of incidents.”

Photo by Ian Kucerak / Postmedia

Col. William Fletcher, commander of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, said Canada’s posture in the Baltics will be “defensive in nature.”

“We are going to defend Latvia, we are not going to focus on offensive operations and taking the fight to the Russians,” he said.

“That’s not what we’re there for.”

As much as NATO countries fall under the protective umbrella of the principle of collective defence — known as Article 5 — a physical presence is required in the region, Fletcher said.

“I think Article 5 is a powerful message but notwithstanding the fact that it’s policy and been articulated, there is something to be said about boots on the ground, a defined physical presence, that backs up Article 5,” he said.

Eihenbaums added that “despite the outright hostile attitudes and actions” by Russia in the region, with its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and a similar operation in South Ossetia in 2008, “this is a presence that keeps peace” and the permanent deployment of international troops “is not about starting some military action.”

He said the “embedded message” of the multinational deployment is one of solidarity.

“We are not alone,” he said.

“This represents the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen and Latvia does not take for granted Canada’s generosity or the generosity of other allies.”

jgraney@postmedia.com

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