NATO Enhanced Forward Presence
Enhanced Forward Presence is a NATO-allied forward-deployed defense and deterrence military force in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. This posture in Northern Europe through Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and in Central Europe through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary and in Eastern Europe through Romania and Bulgaria, is in place to protect and reassure the security of NATO's Northern, Central and Eastern European member states on NATO's eastern flank.
Following Russia's invasion of Crimea, NATO's member states agreed at the 2016 Warsaw summit to forward deploy four multinational battalion battle groups to areas most likely to be attacked.
The numbers involved, although a notable supplement to the armed forces of the country being defended, are limited so that they avoid seeming to threaten Russia. The chief value of the force is that it is impossible to invade Poland or the Baltic states without battling the soldiers and firing on the flags of the involved NATO states, giving cause for war. It is believed that the prospect of war with all those countries will deter aggression.
The original four multinational battalion battle groups are based in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, and led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the United States respectively.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO members agreed to establish four more multinational battalion battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia led by Italy, Hungary, France, Czech Republic respectively at 2022 Madrid Summit. Starting in 2026, a battle group led by Sweden will also be deployed to Rovaniemi, Finland.
| Country | Location | Leading state | Participants | Troops |
 BulgariaMultinational Battalion Battle Group EstoniaBelgiumThe Belgian Army contributes a 269-soldier strong Belgian Land Component armoured infantry company from the Chasseurs Ardennais with support elements and HQ staff officers.Denmark and IcelandThe Danish Army will deploy a mechanized force by 2018 at the latest. Three brigade HQ support personnel from the Royal Danish Army and 1 strategic communications civilian from the Icelandic defence forces have also been stationed in Estonia.FranceThe British unit will be supported by a mixed battle group from the French Army's 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade consisting of a mechanized infantry company from the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment equipped with VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, artillery from the 11th Marine Artillery Regiment equipped with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, and combat engineers from the 6th Engineer Regiment, with a company of Leclerc main battle tanks from the 7th Armoured Brigade's 1st Chasseurs Regiment attached for the deployment.United KingdomThe United Kingdom under Operation Cabrit deployed 800 personnel from the British Army's 20th Armoured Brigade Combat Team:
During 2022 between March and June Exercise Spring Storm took place which brought AgustaWestland Apache AH.1's and AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1's to Estonia and other Eastern European countries. As part of Aviation Task Force 3 under Operation Peleda, Chinook HC.5/6s from No. 27 Squadron RAF were deployed to Amari Air Base between 8 July and September 2022. They were supported by the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, Tactical Supply Wing RAF and 244 Signal Squadron . Chinook HC.5/6s from No. 18 Squadron RAF deployed to Amari from January to February 2023. Multinational Brigade LatviaThe Latvian multinational battalion battle group is based at Camp Ādaži, near the Latvian capital of Riga, and contains approximately 1,500 personnel.AlbaniaAlbania will send a small detachment of 21 EOD engineers from the Albanian Land Force.Canadais the lead framework nation and initially had 540 soldiers station in Latvia. As of 2025 that number has grown to 2,200 soldiers which will be further increasing to 2,600. The initial 540 soldiers were mechanized infantry and supporting troops. Operation Reassurance, is provided by Canada's high-readiness brigade, a task which rotates annually amongst the three Regular Force brigades of the country. Reservists from more than 100 units across Canada have provided several augmentees to each rotation.2017In 2017, the contingent was provided by 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Western Canada, which handed over to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Eastern Canada in 2018. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Gagetown, rotated in to relieve the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.2018In June 2018, the 2nd Battalion RCR was replaced by the 1st Battalion RCR, based out of Petawawa, Ontario.2019In January 2019, Canada's French-speaking mechanized brigade from Quebec,, took on the task. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sauvé, and most of the soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment or the armoured 12e Régiment blindé du Canada. In accordance with this rotation cycle, they were replaced in July 2019 by the 2nd Battalion PPCLI from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.2020In January 2020, a battle group led by Lord Strathcona's Horse, of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, rotated in to Latvia, and was replaced by a battle group led by the 2nd Battalion RCR.2021In January 2021, a battle group led by the Royal Canadian Dragoons, of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, relieved the 2nd Battalion RCR.2023On 15 December 2023 the Canadian Defence Minister announced several measures to strengthen Canada’s military presence in Latvia as part of the planned increase from about 1,000 Canadian personnel to 2,200 by 2026. These include:
In December 2025, reports emerged that the Canadian Armed Forces started a study regarding the establishment of a permanent base in Latvia. Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic provides a mortar platoon of 55 soldiers.DenmarkIn April 2022, the first part of a force consisting of about 750 Danish soldiers, along with armoured vehicles, arrived in Latvia.ItalyItaly will provide an Italian Army mechanized Infantry company with Freccia and Dardo infantry fighting vehicles. Recently the Italian Army has reinforced its presence with 8 Ariete main battle tanks.Montenegroprovides a reconnaissance squad.PolandPoland provides an armored company with Leopard 2PL main battle tanks.SloveniaSlovenia will deploy an Infantry reconnaissance platoon, Tactical Air Control Party team, Contribution to battlegroup headquarters, Support elements of the Slovenian Armed Forces.SlovakiaSlovakia deployed an armored infantry company consisting of 150 troops from 11th Mechanized Battalion starting in second half of 2018. The Slovak force contribution consists of:
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