Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded his visit to Latvia today where he announced his government was renewing its military operation in the country a year in advance to support NATO. “This mission was set to expire next year and in light of the situation in Europe, we decided to renew it ahead of schedule,” Trudeau said in a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, and Spanish Primer Minister Pedro Sánchez. “Operation REASSURANCE is the CAF’s [Canadian Armed Forces] support to NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures. The troops here are not only defending Latvia or Eastern Europe, they’re defending all NATO allies, including Canada.” Trudeau said 540 CAF personnel are currently in Latvia and will be joined by approximately 130 others in the coming weeks. Canada is leading the NATO battlegroup in Latvia. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some western countries have …