This summer, members of the Michigan National Guard will travel to Latvia, a Baltic nation bordering Russia, to train on Latvian soil and teach Latvian soldiers how to use American equipment.
This trip marks the continuation of the decades-long partnership between Michigan and Latvia’s Zemessardze, its national guard.
“Year by year, the friendship grows. Basically, (it’s) friendship, brothers in arms, camaraderie,” said Latvian Lt. Col. Peteris Kiršis, who has worked with the Michigan National Guard as a liaison officer for Latvia’s Office of Defense Corporation and the U.S. Embassy for 18 years.
From left to right, Latvian military members V. Peļčaris, S. Krilovs and J. Māzurs are pictured here at a military base on Feb. 6, 2026 near the Latvia-Russia border. Latvia’s national guard, the Zemessardze, has trained and collaborated with the Michigan National Guard since 1993.
Initially, this collaboration was an avenue for the Michigan National Guard to assist Latvia in developing its military after Latvia regained independence following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Over the years, the relationship developed. Now, over 30 years in, the Latvian troops also teach the Michigan National Guard soldiers.
“Our subject matter experts — our guys — reached the level where they can start to share experience,” Kiršis said. “The Michigan guys who came were surprised … they could start to learn from us.”
The Michigan National Guard benefits from using Latvia’s new unmanned aerial vehicles training area, which Kiršis says will be the biggest in Eastern Europe. There, members of the Michigan National Guard will be able to train with drones away from civilization, an advantage of Latvia’s remote areas. The Latvian troops also continually teach the Michigan troops the skills they have been rapidly developing, such as engineering and Joint Terminal Attack Controller.
“We share excellent professional relationships and sharpen each other’s skills through military training,” said Maj. Catalin Bugan, head of the Michigan National Guard’s security cooperation division.
Bugan lived in Latvia for three years while working as a bilateral affairs officer. He supported military-to-military engagements with the Latvian National Armed Forces by coordinating Michigan National Guard soldiers traveling to Latvia for training and Latvian soldiers traveling to Michigan for military exercises.
In return, the Michigan National Guard teaches the Latvian troops how to use American military equipment and a variety of special techniques. For example, Kiršis explained that after Latvia replaced its Soviet-style helicopters with advanced American Black Hawk helicopters, Michigan troops taught them to operate them along the Russian border.
“Beyond the professional side, the personal connections have become just as important. We stay in touch throughout the year — emailing ideas, sharing new procedures, and comparing notes on projects,” said Staff Sgt. Keith Stanton, airfield manager with the 127th Operations Support Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, who travels to a Latvian air base every summer. “We joke that our ‘friendship’ is strengthened by playing PUBG together (a battle royale video game), but there’s truth in it. These relationships matter.”
Today, camaraderie between Michigan and Latvia has grown to a strong point.
“It is normal for us now to see these interrelations,” Kiršis said. “Thirty-five years ago, that was something absolutely impossible.”
In addition to having a climate comparable to Latvia, over 3,300 Latvian Americans now make their homes in Michigan, according to a 2024 survey with the U.S. Census Bureau.
At least one of those Latvian Americans can thank the partnership with the Michigan National Guard. While stationed in Riga, Bugan even met his wife and moved back to Michigan with her after his deployment ended.
“In Latvia, I learned a great deal about the culture. I really enjoyed their midsummer festival and traditions, the wonderful nature scene, the beautiful Baltic Sea and exceptional art scene,” Bugan said.
Soldiers in Latvia’s national guard, the Zemessardze, have been training with members of the Michigan National Guard since 1993 under a state partnership program that pairs other Eastern European countries with national guards in U.S. states.
Many Latvian soldiers share an equal enthusiasm for American sports and culture.
“One of my favorite memories is playing in a baseball game against the Latvian Air Force Airfield Operations Unit,” Stanton said. “They actually beat us, and they loved every second of it.”
Many other states’ national guards also routinely travel to Eastern European nations to train together as part of a state partnership program, including Pennsylvania paired with Lithuania, California with Ukraine and Maryland with Estonia.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited Michigan National Guard soldiers in Latvia in 2023 as they conducted multinational exercises with the Latvian forces on NATO’s eastern flank amid Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
Colonel Māris Tūtins, a 33-year veteran of Latvia’s national guard, the Zemessardze, gives a presentation on the Latvian military on Feb. 3, 2026 in Riga, Latvia. Tūtins has been part of the Zemessardze’s three-decade-long partnership with the Michigan National Guard that dates back to 1993, after Latvia gained independence following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Col. Māris Tūtins has served in Latvia’s Zemessardze for 33 years, joining after Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union.
When asked if he had any concerns about the future of the partnership, Tūtins replied optimistically.
“We are very much looking forward, because it is a very good cooperation among the partners, not the ones who have to be mentored, but among partners,” Tūtins said.
Bugan, the Michigan National Guard major, shared this sentiment.
“We have built a strong partnership and professional relationships with our Latvian allies … and mutually sharpen each other,” Bugan said.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan National Guard’s decades-old bond with Latvian military grows