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Latvia

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Capital: Riga
Area: 64,589 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Population (July 2011 estimate): 2,204,708
Official language: Latvian
State Partner: Michigan
International Organizations and Agreements: United Nations, European Council, European Union, Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation Organization, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), World Trade Organization

Latvia's defense concept is based upon four basic pillars: collective defense as a member of NATO, professionalization of the armed forces, support and coordination with civil society, and international military cooperation. The regular forces are composed of the land forces, an air force focused on air surveillance and search and rescue, and naval forces focused on coastal surveillance, assertion of sovereignty, mine countermeasures, search and rescue, and environmental protection.

Latvia has emerged as a significant international player, supporting peace and democracy world wide. Per capita, it is one of the largest contributors to international military operations. It has deployed troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, and the Balkans. It also works closely with the U.S. and the EU to support and promote democracy in the former Soviet Union states of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia. The Latvian military participates in Exercise Sabre Strike, Exercise Baltic Host, Baltic Operations, Joint Staff Talks and various other engagements with the U.S. There is an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement in place with Latvia.

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  • December 8, 2011

    U.S. Army awards fire station renovation contracts in Latvia

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District recently awarded three contracts in Latvia to upgrade eight existing fire and rescue stations throughout the country. The contracts, awarded to Koger un Partneri and Ekers SIA, are part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored program to assist Latvia’s State Fire and Rescue Service modernize its facilities.
  • August 17, 2011

    USS Carr Departs Riga, Latvia

    The guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) completed a four-day port visit to Riga, Latvia, Aug. 13.
  • June 17, 2011

    Tactical Combat Casualty Care course delivers one standard to SOF medics

    With more and more European partner nation Special Operation Forces (SOF) participating in ISAF operations, having medical personnel available to save the lives of wounded personnel in austere and sometimes dangerous environments is of critical importance.
  • November 15, 2010

    EPC 10 Kicks Off in Malta

    Eurasia Partnership Capstone 2010 (EPC 10) kicked off with a reception attended by Douglas Kmiec the U.S. ambassador to Malta, Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, and Brig. Gen. Martin G. Xuereb, Malta’s chief of defense here, Nov. 14.
  • October 5, 2010

    Jackal Stone 10 SOF exercise concludes in Poland, Lithuania

    Jackal Stone 10, a multinational special operations forces (SOF) military exercise, concluded in Poland and Lithuania on Sept. 27 marking the third consecutive year of the capstone training event for U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).
  • September 30, 2010

    Providing communication interoperability to a multi-national force

    Communicators from seven nations converged on Poland and Lithuania this past September during Exercise Jackal Stone 2010 to develop coalition communication planning techniques and provide a deployable, interoperable communications system for more than 1,100 SOF personnel. Jackal Stone is a multi-national Special Operations Force (SOF) joint exercise led by U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).
  • September 28, 2010

    Contracting team helped to make Jackal Stone 10 a success

    For the more than 1,100 participants attending the Jackal Stone 10 exercise, the first day rigors of deployment were significantly reduced. Upon arrival, coalition members were quickly in-processed, bussed to their barracks and treated to a hot meal at the dining facility. Later that night, they were able to clean up in one of the many portable showers and crawl into a bed complete with blankets and linen placed neatly on top.
  • September 27, 2010

    Mount Whitney Completes Jackal Stone 2010

    USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) completed its participation in exercise Jackal Stone (JS10) 2010, ending the 10-day joint military operation off the coast of Lithuania and Poland Sept. 26.
  • September 24, 2010

    Lithuanian president Grybauskaite visits Dragunu Batalionas during Jackal Stone exercise

    Lithuanian, Polish, and U.S. Special Operations Forces assembled on Sept. 21 for the arrival of President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Rasa Jukneviciene, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Anne E. Derse, Lithuanian Chief of Defense Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, leading officials of the Ministry of National Defense and Lithuanian Armed Forces, as well as other distinguished guests who visited the Dragunu Batalionas and USS Mount Whitney.
  • September 24, 2010

    Ceremony kicks off Jackal Stone 2010 Special Operations Forces exercise in Poland

    Special Operations Forces representing seven countries stood in formation as part of the official opening ceremony for Jackal Stone 10 multi-national special operations exercise on Sept. 20 at the 21st Tactical Airbase in Swidwin, Poland.

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  • May 16, 2012

    Smart Civic Engagement in Latvia

    On Monday, Judy Garber, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia; members of the U.S. Embassy in Riga and EUCOM; the Latvian Ministry of Interior (State Fire and Rescue Service) and National Guard members; and local government officials broke ground on a EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance project modernizing eight fire and rescue stations in Latvia.
  • March 13, 2012

    First-Ever Regional Cyber Endeavor Seminar Held in Montenegro

    I spent last week in the warm and hospitable city of Podgorica, Montenegro, with a EUCOM team executing the first-ever regional Cyber Endeavor event.
  • November 17, 2011

    Humanitarian Assistance for Latvian Fire and Rescue

    Since fall 2008 US Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC Latvia) and State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (SFRS) have identified and submitted 10 Civic Engagement (Humanitarian Assistance) projects for renovations of fire stations all over Latvia.
  • May 31, 2011

    Effective Partnering for Cyber Security

    A little over a week ago, at the request of EUCOM, the U.S. Embassy in Riga and the Latvian government, a small group of cyber security experts donated their time and expertise to conduct a strategic assessment of Latvia’s cyber security infrastructure.
  • April 7, 2011

    The Power of Partnering in the Baltics

    In early March, we teamed up with Project Hope, a non-profit medical service organization, to work with us and our Baltic allies in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on some of the most relevant, important issues facing all of our forces.
  • March 16, 2011

    Day 2: Nothing says spring like fresh flowers.

    While visiting Lithuania the Wounded Warrior team and the two physicians from Project Hope drove out to Vilnius University Emergency Hospital (VUEH) located 15 minutes west of the capital, Vilnius. The day’s mission was to deliver medical lectures about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the staff at a local hospital there.
  • March 15, 2011

    Exploring Wounded Warrior issues in partner nations

    Wounded Warrior, Veteran care, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. All are powerful terms capable of eliciting intense emotions from military service members and civilians alike. For the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia supporting International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan it is a term they are becoming more familiar with.
  • January 31, 2011

    Local Procurement in Latvia Strengthens Northern Distribution Network

    The United States European Command (USEUCOM) plays an important role supplying the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
  • January 24, 2011

    HA Works When They Want it as Much as We Do!

    What makes a Humanitarian Assistance (HA) project a success? There are many factors that impact the process; it is no longer just a triangular relationship between the project scope, available funding and allocated time.
  • October 28, 2010

    Admiral Stavridis comments on the Northern European Chief of Defense Conference

    Military leaders from Nordic and Baltic countries to include Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and of course, the host country of Norway joined the Admiral to discuss regional issues and challenges that they share.

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