Poland has deployed Leopard 2 battle tanks in Latvia to reinforce the NATO brigade in the Baltic EU and NATO country.
The armored vehicles were transported by train to the Adazi military base after their arrival, the Latvian military said on Friday.
They are to replace the PT-91 main battle tanks stationed there until now, a Polish development of the Soviet T-72 tank. No information was provided about the exact number.
The multinational brigade is led by Canada. “The arrival of the Polish Leopard 2PL tanks in Latvia marks a significant improvement in our firepower,” the brigade’s Canadian commander, Colonel Cédric Aspirault, said in the statement.
The presence of the tanks confirmed the commitment to protect Latvia, which borders Russia and Belarus, and sends a clear message, he said.
Latvia views Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine as a direct threat to its national security.
