The Commander of the Joint Expeditionary Force will familiarise with the tasks of the National Armed Forces

On 9 November, the Commander of the Joint Expeditionary Force Major General Stuart Skeates will arrive in Latvia to get a more in-depth look at the National Armed Forces and the progress of the exercise “Arcade Fusion 2015”.

The Commander of the Joint Expeditionary Force will meet with the Undersecretary of State - Policy Director of the Ministry of Defence Jānis Karlsbergs. The meeting will cover the Latvian participation in the Joint Expeditionary Force as well as the intent to sign the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the formation of a Joint Expeditionary Force among the seven Partner States of the initiative at the end of November.

Major General Skeates, UK Standing Joint Force Commander, emphasizes: "The Joint Expeditionary Force represents a commitment to cooperative security by like-minded partner nations including Latvia. Its strength lies in its flexibility, agility and the collective commitment of a coalition of the willing which will be demonstrated when the Foundation Memorandum of Understanding is signed at the end of the month in London."

During his visit Major General Skeates met with the Chief-of-Staff of the NAF Joint HQS Major General Juris Zeibārts and Commander of Land Force Colonel Mārtiņš Liberts and he visited the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU).

The Joint Expeditionary Force is an initiative of Great Britain, and the formation of the Force was announced at the NATO Summit Wales 2014 during which the Agreement of Common Intentions was signed by the Defence Ministers of the initiative Member States. On September 2014 the works for forming the structure of the Force as well as defining tasks and aims of the Member States were begun.

The aim of the Joint Expeditionary Force is to create a trained and equipped rapid response force that is able to react to any conflict as well as participate in the operations of the UN, NATO and the European Union. It is planned that Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway will join the initiative of Great Britain.

For Latvia the main benefit of joining the Joint Expeditionary Force will be the chance to deepen the cooperation with Great Britain, increase the capabilities of the Armed Forces, as well as the chance to participate in regular military training, which will develop practical partnership and new capabilities, as well as ensure the compatibility of the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Member States.

Media contacts:
Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv
Website: www.mod.gov.lv