Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed on Monday that Canada will take another three years to fulfill its commitment to develop a NATO multinational battle group in Latvia into a combat-ready brigade.

The two countries signed a "roadmap" outlining the process, which began over a year ago when Canada pledged to increase the size and capability of the battle group as part of NATO's efforts to strengthen its eastern flank in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The document outlines three phases of work, which will eventually include up to 2,200 Canadian forces permanently deployed, as well as the capability to add hundreds of additional armed forces personnel as needed. The document states that the brigade enhancement will be completed in 2025 and that Latvia will work to build new infrastructure, and by 2026, Canada will complete the full implementation of the capabilities of the permanently deployed brigade in Latvia."

Trudeau held a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins at the Adazi military base outside Riga today, where he also welcomed some of the 800 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on the mission.

He pointed out that plans to increase Canada's presence at Adazi will exceed its current capacity, which is already strained. The base is a mix of permanent buildings, temporary shelters, tents, and shipping containers.

Trudeau, who also met earlier with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics today, said the additional personnel will enhance Canadian land, sea, and air capabilities and support special operations in Central and Eastern Europe.

Trudeau added, "This is the way forward in modern defense, nearly a dozen NATO countries from all over cooperating, training, operating side by side, and learning valuable lessons from each other that make our collective defense stronger."

The Prime Minister promised that Canada will purchase critical weapon systems, pre-position them, and assist in intelligence and electronic activities. Overall, $2.6 billion has been allocated, including a $1.4 billion commitment in the 2022 federal budget.

Trudeau explained, "Canada and all countries must be clear that Russia's unjustified war on a sovereign country, on free and democratic Ukraine, poses a threat to freedom, international law, human rights, and the shared set of democratic values that soldiers of generations have fought for."

Last month, Defense Minister Anita Anand announced that a Leopard 2 tank squadron consisting of 15 tanks and about 130 personnel would join the mission starting this fall. Canada also pledged to purchase air defense systems and coastal defense systems for the mission.

NATO has doubled the number of battle groups in the region since the war started in Ukraine, adding these groups to four countries, with Germany recently pledging to deploy its own full brigade in Lithuania, where it leads another battle group. The United States and the United Kingdom have completed NATO exercises to demonstrate their ability to quickly raise brigade strength.

NATO leaders, including Trudeau, are expected to meet in the Lithuanian capital starting Tuesday for their annual summit. Canada and many other countries will face pressure to increase their defense spending, as allies discuss raising the current 2 percent of GDP target to a new minimum spending threshold.