The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia has begun returning personnel and equipment to its military bases after conducting the alliance’s largest force-deployment exercise in the country to date.
The Resolute Reforger 2026 exercise involved approximately 3,000 soldiers and 1,000 military vehicles between October 26 and November 8, according to Latvia’s Ministry of Defence.
Units began cleaning up training areas and moving back to their bases on November 4, with the return phase scheduled to continue through November 8.
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What the Canada Latvia exercise tested
The exercise was designed to test whether the multinational brigade could move combat-capable forces over long distances, sustain them in field conditions and maintain command, control and communications outside established military bases.
Troops and equipment travelled by road and rail from the Ādaži and Ceri military bases to training locations in eastern Latvia.
The exercise covered areas including Ogre, Jēkabpils, Aizkraukle, Daugavpils, Alūksne, Balvi, Gulbene, Madona, Rēzekne and Upper Daugavpils, as well as the city of Rēzekne.
Latvia’s defence ministry said the manoeuvres were intended to improve the brigade’s ability to deploy, resupply and coordinate forces across the country while working with Latvia’s National Armed Forces.
The Canadian Armed Forces also provided CH-146 Griffon helicopters to support brigade units during the exercise.
Why the deployment matters
The exercise moved the brigade’s activity beyond the Ādaži base area and into the terrain where NATO forces would be expected to operate during a major regional crisis.
That makes the exercise a practical test of military mobility, logistics and interoperability rather than simply a demonstration staged at a permanent base.
For residents in eastern Latvia, the activity has also meant increased military traffic and the possibility of short-term delays on some roads linking the bases and training areas.
Latvian authorities said all vehicle movements were being conducted under the country’s traffic rules and warned residents that allied soldiers, military vehicles and Canadian helicopters could be visible near exercise locations.
Canada’s role in Latvia
Canada leads the NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia as the alliance’s framework nation.
The brigade includes personnel from Canada, Latvia and 12 other NATO countries, including Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Canada has approximately 2,000 Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE, including personnel assigned to the brigade, Task Force Latvia and NATO’s Multinational Division North headquarters.
The broader Canadian operation includes maritime and air contributions elsewhere in Europe, but Latvia remains the central land component of Canada’s NATO presence on the alliance’s eastern flank.
A larger and more permanent NATO posture
NATO established the brigade-level presence in Latvia in 2024, making the country the first on the alliance’s eastern flank to scale up its forward presence from a multinational battlegroup to a brigade.
NATO says Canada has completed the full implementation of persistently deployed brigade capabilities in Latvia, with up to 2,200 Canadian troops now part of the multinational brigade and supporting elements.
The alliance describes the forward presence as defensive and says its purpose is to strengthen deterrence, readiness and the ability to respond to aggression against member states.
Canada also joined Latvia and Denmark in July 2026 as a framework nation of NATO’s Multinational Division North, adding a broader command responsibility beyond the brigade itself.
What happens next
The immediate next step is the return of troops and equipment from eastern training areas to the Ādaži and Ceri bases.
That movement is scheduled to continue until November 8, when the exercise is due to conclude.
The end of the field phase will not mark the end of the brigade’s deployment, however, because the multinational force remains part of NATO’s standing deterrence and defence posture in Latvia.
Denmark’s current battlegroup was formally transferred to the Canadian-led brigade in August 2026, adding another major allied manoeuvre element to the force operating in Latvia.
The exercise is therefore best understood as a test of how the brigade can fight and sustain itself across Latvia, rather than as a temporary deployment that ends when the vehicles return to base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Resolute Reforger 2026 exercise?
It is a NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia exercise testing the movement, supply, coordination and field operations of allied forces across eastern Latvia.
How many troops and vehicles are involved?
Approximately 3,000 soldiers and 1,000 military vehicles are taking part in the exercise.
When will the exercise end?
The exercise runs until November 8, 2026, with units returning to their military bases between November 4 and November 8.
What is Canada’s role in Latvia?
Canada is the framework nation leading NATO’s Multinational Brigade Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE.
How many Canadian troops are in Latvia?
Approximately 2,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are deployed in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE, including brigade and headquarters personnel.
Fact-Checked: The exercise dates and November 4–8 return phase were verified against Latvia’s Defence Ministry. Canada’s current brigade implementation status was updated to reflect that full implementation has been completed by November 4, 2026. Related July and August 2026 chronology was verified against official Latvian, Canadian and Danish defence sources. ([mod.gov.lv](https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/15432?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Military exercise schedules and personnel figures can change as authorities release further operational updates.