December 23, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Canada’s military operations command has launched a study to assess how the country can realistically sustain its NATO deployment in Latvia over the long term, with one option potentially involving more permanent basing, according to a senior commander.
Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), said the review is in its early stages and no recommendations have yet been made to the chief of the defence staff or the federal government.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last August that Canada’s mission in Latvia would be extended until 2029. Canada currently maintains a near-permanent rotational presence in the Baltic country, with about 2,200 soldiers deployed at any given time. Troops typically serve rotations lasting six to nine months, depending on their unit.
“We are approaching it from a military point of view — what makes sense based on the commitment that we’ve made,” Boivin said.
He noted that the study is being driven by several factors, including ongoing personnel shortages across the Canadian Armed Forces and the logistical challenges of rapidly deploying reinforcements in the event of a crisis. The analysis will examine how best to balance operational readiness, sustainability and Canada’s long-term obligations to NATO’s eastern flank.
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