Latvia’s Minister of Defence visits Canadian Forces College

The Latvian minister of defence (right) and the Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy sit down for talks.
RAdm Luc Cassivi, Commander Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) (right), receives His Excellency Raidmonds Bergamis, Minister of Defence for the Republic of Latvia, at the Canadian Forces College (CFC) in Toronto on February 2, 2018. Toronto was the final portion of the visit, and while at CFC, Mr. Bergamis met with the sole Latvian student on the Joint Command and Staff Programme. Photo: MCpl Kevin McMillan, CFC

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Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan recently hosted a Latvian delegation including His Excellency Raidmonds Bergamis, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, to discuss evolving defence matters.

The Latvian delegation visited Eastern Ontario from January 30 to February 4, holding meetings aimed at strengthening the defence relationship between Canada and Latvia.

Rear-Admiral Luc Cassivi, Commander Canadian Defence Academy (CDA), received Minister Bergmanis at the Canadian Forces College (CFC) in Toronto on February 2. During the visit, RAdm Cassivi briefed Minister Bergamis on the College’s programs, and discussed the importance of education in developing senior officers.

Minister Bergamis also had the opportunity to meet with Major Agris Liepins from Latvia, who is currently attending the Joint Command and Staff Program at CFC. CFC has hosted a number of Latvian students over the years. RAdm Cassivi was pleased to continue this relationship by extending invitations to Latvia for the National Security Program, and the Joint Command and Staff Program starting in August 2018.

“It was an honour to host Minister Bergamis. Through Operation REASSURANCE and our deployment to Latvia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, our bilateral relationship is deepening,” said RAdm Cassivi. “I am pleased that the Canadian Forces College can help support this relationship by offering opportunities for senior Latvian Officers to study alongside their Canadian counterparts on both the Joint Command and Staff Program and the National Security Program,” he added.

CFC is Canada’s centre of excellence for joint operational and national strategic level professional military education.

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