The 4th LAR Marines stopped in Bauska during a road march from the port of Klaipeda, Lithuania, to deliver supplies and equipment to the training area in Adazai, Latvia, while conducting a number of static display events in local communities along the way. The focus of the ceremony was the integration of multinational forces and the enhancement of the relationships between the U.S. Marines and their Latvian military counterparts.
“We have a very healthy relationship with the Latvians, and this [event] allows us to come out and reinforce that relationship with the Latvian military,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Peter Lee, head of operations at Marine Forces Europe and Africa, who represented the Marines during the ceremony. “Having the Latvian military here with us helps to portray that relationship to your everyday Latvian citizen that the Latvians are a valued partner and the Americans have a healthy beneficial relationship with the Latvian military.”
Ambassador Nancy Bikoff Pettit addressed the people of Bauska during the ceremony and recognized the country for their contributions to the partnership between the U.S. and Latvia and thanked the local community for their hospitality.
The ceremony also gave the citizens of Bauska the opportunity to observe the different militaries involved in the annual Saber Strike exercise through a static display of military vehicles and interaction with the U.S. Marines and Latvian soldiers.
“So far this has been awesome,” said Cpl. Jordan Riley, a light armored vehicle crewman with 4th LAR. “It’s been a good experience for me. Being able to interact with the local people and answer their questions is great. We figure out what we have in common and it’s a good learning experience on both ends.”
The 4th LAR convoy will end its journey at the training area in Adazai, Latvia, and deliver supplies and needed to begin the first stages of Saber Strike.
Exercise Saber Strike 18 is a U.S. joint and multinational exercise conducted at various locations throughout the Baltic States and Poland. The annual exercise prepares Allies to respond to regional crises and enhance the NATO alliance throughout the region.