ADAŽI, Latvia (June 12, 2018) – U.S. and Latvian dignitaries, including Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, attended the unveiling of “Michigan Avenue,” a main roadway at Adaži Military Base, Latvia, June 12, 2018. Latvian military officials chose the name to mark the 25th anniversary of the Michigan National Guard’s collaboration with Latvia under the State Partnership Program (SPP), a security cooperation supported by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. National Guard Bureau.
“This is a special honor for Michigan, and I appreciate the opportunity to support this wonderful partnership,” said Snyder. “There are many ‘Michigan Avenues’ in America, but to my knowledge, this is the first Michigan Avenue in Europe or outside the borders of the United States – and I couldn’t think of a prouder place to have it than right here.”
In a series of brief remarks, distinguished guests told the story of Latvia’s enduring partnership with the Michigan National Guard, including Hon. Nancy Pettit, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Lt. Gen. Leonids Kalninš, Chief of Defense – Republic of Latvia, Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard, and Col. Ilmars Lejinš, Latvian Infantry Brigade commander. Approximately 150 service members from Latvia and the Michigan National Guard were also in attendance.
According to Kalninš, the Michigan National Guard’s collaboration with Latvia was formalized April 27, 1993, shortly after the nation – which borders Russia and the Baltic Sea – regained its independence following a fifty-year Soviet occupation. Latvian officials recognized that international partnerships would be crucial as they began the work of building new western-style institutions, including a reliable defense force.
Sharing a similar climate and topography with Latvia, Michigan is also home to a vibrant Latvian-American community pioneered by approximately 5,000 immigrants who sought to escape Soviet brutality during the 1950s. These pre-existing ties made the Latvia-Michigan military collaboration a natural fit.
“Michigan was the first to assist Latvia in developing its military capability,” said Kalninš. “We always mention that all defense capabilities we have right now were started in their development with Michigan.”
The Michigan-Latvia relationship was one of the first three state partnerships established by the National Guard Bureau, along with Pennsylvania/Lithuania and Maryland/Estonia. Today, the SPP is recognized as a highly-successful global security cooperation, having grown to include 74 unique relationships between partner nations and the National Guard organizations of various U.S. states.
Kalninš went on to list a number of achievements that have occurred under the SPP banner, including increased capability of Latvia’s land force component, development of air support operations at Lielvarde Air Base, and the establishment of a world-class Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) program to direct the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other air operations from a forward position.
The distinguished speakers also discussed three Michigan-Latvia Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs) that deployed to Afghanistan from 2009-2010 to assist the development of the Afghan National Army. Two Latvian soldiers were killed in action on these missions. Last year, a street was named for one of them, Sgt. Voldemars Anševics, at Alpena Combat Readiness Center, Mich.
“We have fought, bled and died together in Afghanistan,” said Vadnais. “This is a partnership built on mutual trust, and we always say that in a partnership you can’t surge trust – it takes time to build that.”
Vadnais identified that the SPP relationship is mutually beneficial. He pointed to the testing of interoperability in tactics, techniques and procedures in a coalition environment as a key strength that the SPP has brought to the Michigan National Guard.
“This is a two-way street, just like the exchanges with our Latvian family,” he said. “I can tell you, the Michigan National Guard gets as much out of this relationship as we put in.”
In her remarks, Pettit acknowledged that the achievements of the Michigan-Latvia partnership are not just a thing of history, offering an ongoing U.S.-funded infrastructure improvement project near the dedication site – facilitated this week by airmen from the 110th Civil Engineer Squadron, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Mich. – as a case-in-point.
“This project is another example of the continuous cooperation that Latvia and Michigan enjoy,” she said. “In future years, soldiers and airmen walking down Michigan Avenue will be reminded of the relationship and the steadfast U.S. commitment to a free and independent Latvia.”
Photos from the event: flickr.com/photos/mi_ng/
