The Secretary General said the four recently deployed battlegroups send a powerful message to Russia that NATO stands as one.

Mr. Stoltenberg also stressed that the NATO battlegroups are also proof of the enduring strength of the transatlantic bond, with soldiers from North America and Europe serving together to keep the Alliance safe, according to a press release received this morning.

Stoltenberg also reportedly paid tribute to Allied forces during a ceremony on Monday to mark the deployment of the NATO multinational battlegroup in Latvia. It is one of four now fully deployed to the eastern part of the Alliance in response to the changed security environment.

According to the NATO press release:

“Mr Stoltenberg then held talks in Riga with Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis and the Speaker of the Parliament, ‎Ināra Mūrniece.

The Secretary General will have discussions on Tuesday with senior government leaders in Lithuania. He will also visit the German led battlegroup there and watch it and other NATO forces take part in Exercise Iron Wolf.”

Canada is leading the NATO battlegroup in Latvia, Germany and the United Kingdom are leading similar forces in Lithuania and Estonia, while the United States commands a NATO battlegroup in Poland.