Edmonton troops join NATO mission in Poland

A Canadian Armed Forces airplane flew 100 soldiers from Edmonton to Poland on Monday morning to participate in NATO missionOperation Reassurance.

In total, 220 fresh troops are heading overseas to replace a contingent that returned at the end of June. Their mission is expected to lastsix or seven months.

"It's reassuring our NATO allies that Canada stands beside them in the event of anything that could happen over in Europe,"saidBrig.-Gen. SimonHetherington."We are ready to demonstrate our capabilities."

In an interview with CBC News in May, Poland's president Andrzej Duda said he hoped Canada would increase its military presence in his country to help deter Russian aggression.

Earlier this month, Canada sent 200fresh troops, including 30 from Edmonton,toUkraine as part of Operation Unifier.They aretraining soldiers fighting pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

In June, the Canadian government announced plansto joina brigade in Latvia,which a CFB Edmonton spokesperson said will likelyinclude more Edmonton troops.