Enhanced Forward Presence - Lithuania, Latvia

Units of the Army of the Czech Republic operate in the Baltics as part of the Alliance's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). The Alliance's advanced presence is one of the main outcomes of the Warsaw Summit in July 2016. It consists of four reinforced battalion-based battle groups based in the US-led Poland, Germany-led Lithuania, Canada-led Latvia and Britain-led Estonia. The concrete military contribution of each participating member state is a confirmation of the national commitment embedded in the principle of NATO's collective defense.

Lithuania

Electronic Warfare Task Force, Lithuania

Since August 2020, the 3rd Task Force of Electronic Warfare has been operating in Lithuania, consisting of soldiers of the 53rd Regiment of Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare. The unit is included in the formation of an international battalion within the Alliance's advanced presence of the eFP together with representatives of six other states led by Germany. Their main task is to support the capacity building of the Lithuanian army and to conduct joint training activities within this group.

In July 2018, the 1st Company Task Force consisting of a mechanized company with Pandur armored vehicles reinforced by an engineer platoon, a logistics unit and a medical element with a total number of up to 230 people was sent to Lithuania by the Czech Republic. After six months, they were replaced by the 2nd Task Force for another six months. The core of both units consisted of soldiers of the 41st Mechanized Battalion. After the conduction of planned annual deployment, the company task force returned to the Czech Republic in July 2019. The involvement of the Czech Armed Forces in eFP Lithuania continued by sending the 1st and 2nd Task Force of Electronic Warfare.

Latvia

Platoon Task Force, Latvia

Since July 2020, the 5th Task Force has been operating in Latvia. Its core consists of members of the mortar platoon of the 44th Light Motorized Battalion with a total number of up to 57 people. Czech troops have been operating in Latvia as part of the Alliance's advanced eFP presence, together with representatives of eight other states led by Canada since June 2018.

The first unit of the Czech Armed Forces that was sent to eFP Forces has left for the Baltics on June 14, 2018. The soldiers of the 1st Task Force (TF) first moved by train to Poland, from there they headed on their own to the Latvian base in Adazi. The core of the mortar unit consisted of soldiers of the 71st Mechanized Battalion. In January 2019, they were replaced by the 2nd Task Force, the core of which again consisted of soldiers of the same battalion. The third group, formed on the basis of the 72nd Mechanized Battalion, took over the operational task in July 2019. The fourth TF, formed on the basis of the 42nd Mechanized Battalion, was deployed from February until July 2020.

Latvia contact by Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eFPBGLatvia/

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Both Czech units will rotate each six months.