Canada opening 4 new embassies, boosting Latvia battlegroup to counter Russia

Canada's embassy expansion comes as NATO allies announced that they will now formally treat Russia as the "most significant and direct threat to the allies’ security."

Canada is opening four new embassies in Europe and the Caucasus in what the government bills as an effort to counter Russia, strengthen ties with NATO allies and support democracy.

As well, the government has agreed to upgrade the 2,000-soldier battlegroup it leads in Latvia to a brigade, boosting the number of troops and pledging to lead it for at least the next five years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced on Wednesday that Canada is expanding existing diplomatic offices in Estonia, Lithuania, and Slovakia into full embassies with ambassadors and a goal towards countering “Russia’s destabilizing activities” in the region.

As well, Canada will also be opening a new embassy in Armenia, a former Soviet republic located on Turkey’s eastern flank.

In a press release, Joly described the goal of putting a Canadian ambassador in Armenia as “allowing for stronger bilateral ties and increased Canadian support for Armenian democracy.”

“Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and horrific invasion of Ukraine has changed the security and diplomatic landscape in Europe, and Canada needs to respond strategically,” Joly said.

“Building on Canada’s strong relationship with its European partners, the changes announced today will help ensure that we have the tools we need to reinforce Armenian democracy and address some of the greatest security and diplomatic challenges of our time.”

She described Canada as a “great diplomatic power.”