RIGA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Namejs 24, the comprehensive national defense exercise, started across Latvia on Tuesday and will continue until Oct. 8, the Latvian Defense Ministry said on its website.

The annual drills involve 11,000 soldiers and members of the National Guard from all units of the National Armed Forces (NAF), including national defense service conscripts, reserve soldiers and allied troops stationed in Latvia.

The Namejs exercise is being organized in cooperation with the Headquarters of NATO's Multinational Division North, based in Adazi near Riga. The allied soldiers participating in the maneuvers alongside Latvian troops are from the United States, Estonia and Lithuania, as well as NATO's multinational battlegroup serving with the Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the NAF Land Forces, NATO Force Integration Unit Latvia, and Canadian Armed Forces Command in Latvia.

The exercise is supported by the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force and representatives from NATO headquarters.

During the maneuvers, Latvian and allied soldiers and military equipment will be moving on Latvia's roads, and military aircraft will be flying in Latvian airspace, including at low altitude. Shooting drills will be taking place at military training grounds. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)