Latvia will celebrate Spain's National Day with a military parade in Riga

Latvia is going through a very difficult time due to Kremlin threats and Belarus's migration war against its borders.

Serious border incident in Latvia involving armed men coming from Belarus
The Spanish participation in a parade in Latvia with soldiers and armoured vehicles

However, Latvia is not alone: ​​the country has been a NATO member since March 29, 2004. It joined the Atlantic Alliance on the same day as the other two Baltic states, Lithuania and Estonia. Thanks to the shield provided by NATO, Latvians have not had to endure the same fate as Georgia and Ukraine, which were invaded by Russia in 2008 and 2022, respectively. Following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and in light of the growing threat to European security posed by Russian expansionism, NATO deployed troops to the three Baltic states—military contingents that initially consisted of a single battalion in each country but have since grown to the size of a brigade.

Spain is one of the countries contributing military personnel to NATO’s Multinational Brigade in Latvia, which consists primarily of armored ground assets: main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, and other support vehicles. The first Spanish military contingent arrived at the Latvian base of Ādaži on November 19, 2017, and the Spanish Army has maintained an uninterrupted presence there ever since, helping to ensure the security of our Latvian allies.

Latvia recognizes the value of this allied support and wishes to express its gratitude. Yesterday, the Latvian Ministry of Defence announced that Riga will host an event dedicated to Spain's National Day. This event will take place on Saturday, October 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., featuring a program that includes a wreath-laying ceremony and a military parade, complemented by an exhibition of military equipment. The Latvian Ministry of Defence noted:

"At 11:00 a.m., the flags of Latvia and Spain will be raised in Freedom Square, followed by a ceremony honoring the fallen, a wreath-laying at the Freedom Monument, and a military parade featuring units from the Spanish Armed Forces. The event will be accompanied by music from the National Armed Forces Orchestra. During the parade, a specially trained unit will fire simultaneous, synchronized artillery salutes. Training ammunition will be used; this produces a brief noise but poses no threat.

Following the military parade, visitors are invited to view Spanish Armed Forces equipment in Brīvības Square, while around 12:00 noon, at 28 Kaļķu Street, there will be an opportunity to taste paella—a traditional Spanish dish—prepared in an army field kitchen."

This event was organized by the Embassy of Spain in Latvia and the Spanish Armed Forces contingent stationed in Latvia, in cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of Defence, the Latvian National Armed Forces, and the Riga City Council. The Latvian Ministry of Defence highlighted the following:

"Spain is one of the 13 member states of the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. This year marks nine years since the Spanish Armed Forces began serving in Latvia as part of the NATO Multinational Brigade. Over the years, the Spanish contingent has grown significantly, increasing from an initial 350 soldiers to more than 600, becoming the second-largest Allied force presence in Latvia."

For years, Spanish soldiers in Latvia have been participating in various events in the country, including the military parades with which the Baltic state celebrates its independence anniversary every November 18.

Currently, the Spanish military contingent in Ādaži consists primarily of soldiers from the Brigade "Guadarrama" XII, based in El Goloso (Madrid). In addition, Spain contributes a NASAMS Air Defense Unit (UDAA) to the country; deployed at Lielvārde Air Base —50 km from Riga— this unit is staffed by personnel from the 94th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (RAAA 94), based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

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Photos: Aizsardzības Ministrija / Estado Mayor Defensa.