Canada Will Send Helicopters to Latvia Next Year, Defence Minister Says

A CH-146 Griffon helicopter from Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, is being loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster airplane, at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ont., on Nov. 17, 2013. The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg

Four Canadian Griffon helicopters will be sent to Latvia next year as part of a NATO deterrence mission, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced during a visit to the Baltic country on Dec. 15.

Mr. Blair and defence chief Gen. Wayne Eyre are meeting with Latvian leaders and visiting Canadian troops at Camp Ādaži, just outside Riga, where Canada leads a NATO battle group.