May 12, 2023  

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Governor Whitmer Visits Key Ukraine Ally, Thanks Foreign and Domestic Troops for Their Service  

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer concluded her visit to Latvia. While in Latvia, the governor visited with President Egils Levits, held meetings other ranking officials and business leaders, and thanked Michigan National Guard troops for their service as they conduct multinational exercises with Latvia on North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank during the Ukraine/Russia conflict. 

“Our national security is just as important as our economic security, which is why Michigan soldiers will continue to play a vital role whether here or abroad,” said Governor Whitmer. “It was important to me to visit Latvia, a key Ukraine ally, and thank the foreign and domestic troops for their service. With Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, it has become more important than ever to support our allies around the world to protect democracy. Sharing our expertise helps Latvia bolster their democracy and strengthen their defense forces in Eastern Europe.”  

Meeting with Latvia President Egils Levits 

Governor Whitmer met with President Egils Levits as Michigan and Latvia celebrate 30 years of partnership this year. The governor previously welcomed the Latvian president to Lansing in September 2021 and met with Head of Chancery Andris Teikmanis (former Ambassador of Latvia to U.S.) and Honorary Consul Andris Lacis in Lansing in May 2019. 

Camp Adazi - 1st Battalion 182d Field Artillery Regiment 

While at Camp Adazi, Governor Whitmer joined the 1st Battalion 182d Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, to participate in a series of joint readiness exercises with U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and NATO Partners in Latvia.  The 1-182d FAR is conducting a live-fire exercise. 

The State Partnership Program between the Michigan Army National Guard and the Latvian Ministry of Defense began on April 27, 1993 after Latvia’s independence from Russia. It was the first official partnership to be established under SPP. The SPP began when USEUCOM sought to establish bilateral relations with 15 former Soviet Republics. When the National Guard Bureau proposed pairing states with these newly independent countries, the proposal was accepted and endorsed by both the Department of State and Department of Defense.  

The Adazi range has a long military history (since WWI) and is now the main training area for the Latvian Army. It covers an area of approximately 19,645 acres. The Latvian Army consists of 5,052 active-duty soldiers in Land, Naval and Air Forces plus the National Guard. The multi-national military exercise “Saber Strike” began in 2010 and has been held at Adazi since. Saber Strike is a U.S. Army Europe-led annual International Military Training exercise of joint land and air force divisions to test local military readiness and preparedness.  

In previous years, the Michigan National Guard hosted the Northern Strike exercise at Camp Grayling alongside the partner nation of Latvia. Held annually since 2012, Northern Strike is one of the premier joint-fire exercises in the Department of Defense and offers unrivaled training opportunities that are critical to maintaining national security. 

The governor also met with United States Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia Christopher Robinson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Ministry of Economics of Latvia Raimonds Lapiņš, Deputy Director in Charge of Export Iveta Strupkāja, and Rector of Riga Technical University Tālis Juhna. 

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