Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Sweden to discuss regional security and NATO-Swedish military cooperation

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel and Swedish Minister of Defence, Mr. Peter Hultqvist focused on the evolving security environment with special emphasis on the Baltic Sea region, Sweden and NATO's adaption to face new challenges and NATO-EU cooperation. General Pavel underlined “the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea region in terms of both economy and security and the key role of Sweden in this context. NATO and Sweden have strengthened their ties to boost situational awareness, increase defence against hybrid warfare, and do more joint training and exercises to support regional and international security”.

In his meeting with the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Micael Bydén and his staff, General Pavel received an update on the Swedish Armed Forces, including bilateral and regional cooperation and prospects for further enhancement of NATO-Swedish military partnership activities. The Chairman commended the Swedish Armed Forces for being "both highly capable, professional and reliable as well as interoperable with Allied forces as a result of using NATO standards and exercising, training and fighting alongside NATO troops". Furthermore, General Pavel thanked General Bydén for Sweden’s participation in NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, NATO Response Force and NATO exercises.

General Pavel was invited to observe the Combined Joint Staff Exercise 2016 (CJSE 16) and delivered a speech to the exercise participants on “NATO on the way to Warsaw”. As part of his visit, the Chairman visited the Life Guards Regiment as well as the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations, both of which focus on education based on comprehensive approach principles in the multinational context.

Since joining Partnership for Peace Programme in 1994, Sweden has played an active role in NATO peace and security operations and offered expertise to other partners and Allies, with a special focus on peacekeeping, civil emergency planning and civil-military cooperation, including gender. NATO and Sweden also have a high level of cooperation in areas such as education and training, and defence reform.