Strengthening NATO's eastern flank: Danish battalion already in Latvia

In July, NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum announced that Canada would be joining Multinational Division North. These forces have now been bolstered by nearly 850 soldiers from Denmark.

Canadian Reinforcement

“In Latvia, the Danish combat battalion will be part of the Canadian-led Multinational Brigade Latvia (MNB-LVA), which is part of Multinational Division North, commanded by a Danish major general and headquartered in Latvia,” according to the website of the Danish Ministry of Defence.

“The integration of national forces into multinational formations strengthens NATO’s readiness, interoperability, and ability to defend its eastern flank,” stated the JFCBS command profile on the X platform.

Danish soldiers are scheduled to be stationed in Latvia until January 2027.

Joint Force Command and Division North

NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) is one of three NATO joint force commands at the operational level. The headquarters plans, conducts, and supports military operations in Eastern and Central Europe. In addition to JFCBS, NATO’s operational level includes JFC Naples, responsible for protecting the southern flank, and JFC Norfolk, which is responsible for tasks including monitoring the Arctic region.

Meanwhile, Multinational Division North (MND-N) is a lower level of command. The objective of MND-N, which is led by Denmark and Latvia alongside Canada, is to strengthen defence and deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.