Three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow and Washington have commenced negotiations to bring an end to the costly conflict. The talks do not include Ukraine or NATO allies, though NATO troops are stationed across Eastern Europe in an effort to deter further Russian aggression.
Canada’s contribution to this broader NATO effort is small but meaningful. In a mission known as Operation Reassurance, Canada has 1,900 troops stationed in the small Baltic nation of Latvia, one of six NATO countries that share a border with Russia. This makes Canada the single largest contributor to a 3,000-strong brigade that includes troops from 13 other NATO countries.
In Latvia, Canada is the “framework nation,” responsible for ensuring the troops of all 14 contributing NATO allies are combat ready.
“Like anything else, soldiering is a skill,” Maj. Devin Kruk told Canadian Affairs in January after performing a reconnaissance — or scouting trip — in an armoured patrol vehicle.
“If you don’t practise your skill, you’ll see that skill fade, and the last thing you want in a real combat situation is a bunch of guys that haven’t practised it for a while.”
A reassuring presence
The role of NATO in Russian deterrence has taken on a new urgency in recent weeks as the Trump administration has signalled a willingness to appease Russian President Vladimir Putin and potentially reduce the U.S.’s role in securing Europe’s security.
The troops involved in Operation Reassurance are conducting large-scale, multinational exercises that simulate full-spectrum warfare. These include live-fire drills, urban combat training and armoured manoeuvres.
From Nov. 1 to 14, 2024, Canada led Exercise Resolute Warrior, the first Canadian-led brigade field exercise held in Europe in more than 30 years.
“The completion of Exercise RESOLUTE WARRIOR 2024 is an important milestone in the significant expansion of Canada’s military commitment to NATO’s eastern flank,” Defence Minister Bill Blair said in a Nov. 14 press statement.
Canadian troops are currently participating in Exercise Oak Resolve, a similar training exercise.
“In the multinational context, we’re all part of the NATO flag, but each nation has different ways of doing things,” said Kruk, who is serving on his second Reassurance deployment.
“So it’s important for us to go out on exercise and understand how a Spanish infantry platoon does a platoon attack, or how an Italian infantry platoon does a platoon attack, or how a Canadian tank troop conducts any kind of forward movement or rearward movement.”
Sgt. Jacob Pollock, who is also serving on his second Reassurance deployment, says the mission helps integrate different elements of the military.
“The biggest thing that’s tough to do back home is the combined arms aspect of our job,” he said. “So here in Latvia, you get to see the infantry work with the armoured [units], work with the engineers, work with the artillery, work with electronic warfare [units] … you don’t always get a chance to do that back in Canada.”
One Canadian soldier — a sniper whose identity the Canadian Armed Forces is not disclosing for security reasons — says the deployment allows him to apply his skillset to challenging new combat environments.
“We’re taking what we know from back home and applying it here,” the marksman told Canadian Affairs. “As a sniper, terrain dictates everything. It’s the same principle, but just in different locations.”
Learning to operate in cold weather is another focus of the operations. Riga, Latvia’s capital, is at roughly the same latitude as Fort McMurray, Alta., which is 350 kilometres north of Edmonton. Temperatures routinely drop below zero.
Training in snowy conditions enhances the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to function in other subzero environments — an asset not just in Europe, but in Canada’s Arctic regions as well.
“Training back home versus coming out on tour to train, it’s almost like three-to-one or four-to-one for days of experience gained,” said Pollock.
Canada’s stance
In the midst of deteriorating U.S.-Ukraine relations, the Trudeau government has said it remains committed to supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression.
At the recent Munich Security Conference, an annual security forum, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly pledged an additional $17.2 million in support for Ukraine.
“Canada stands resolute in its commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends its independence in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression,” Joly said in a Feb. 16 press release. “Our support for Ukrainians will endure, ensuring a future founded on lasting peace, justice and respect for international norms.”
Since February 2022, Canada has provided more than $19.7 billion in total assistance to Ukraine. This has included more than $12.4 billion in financial assistance, $4.5 billion in military assistance and nearly $1 billion in development and humanitarian assistance.
On Feb. 24, the three-year anniversary of the Russian invasion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in Kyiv to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the war effort.
Trudeau told reporters Canada would continue working with its allies to support Ukraine, but was ambiguous about whether that would mean contributing Canadian troops to an international peacekeeping effort to guarantee Ukrainian security.
“As to how we will be there, we will work with our neighbours on it. But everything is on the table, because we need to make sure that ‘might no longer makes right’ in this world,” Trudeau said.
