Defence Ministers of Lithuania and Sweden underline the importance of cooperation in the Baltic region

source baltic.com

October 15, 2011 defpro.com

Rasa Jukneviciene, Minister of National Defence, and Sven Toglfors, Swedish Defence Minister, discussed bilateral cooperation in military training, Nordic-Baltic partnership, energy security points and security situation in the region in a meeting on October 13.

“Sweden is one of our closest partners and neighbors despite being a non-NATO country. I am really happy about our cooperation and shared notion of security“, said R.Jukneviciene at the meeting.

Lithuanian Minister invited the Swedish Armed Forces to participate to a greater extent in the multinational exercises Amber Hope and Energex’12 hosted by Lithuania, in his turn Swedish Defence Minister supported the invitation.

During the meeting R. Jukneviciene also addressed the recent establishment of the Energy Security Centre in Lithuania. “We can see a number of opportunities in the energy sector while activity of the Centre could bring much advantage to NATO and the EU in the future,” the Minister maintained.

Swedish Defence Minister stressed the substantiality of cooperation in the Baltic region, especially in the Baltic Sea for the reason the north Baltic countries are united namely by dependence to the Baltic Sea. “A broader perspective of security that is beginnig to unite us derives from here: we start seeing caretaking of the environment, prevention of hazardous materials spill or crises as security, and the Baltic region itself – as a presence under the responsibility of all of us“, said S. Tolgfors.

The meeting also addressed the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, prospects of the NATO Baltic Air policing mission, and other matters.

Sweden was among the first countries to start cooperation with Lithuania after its restoration of independence and have supported financially many material provision and training projects of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Sweden handed over infantry and engineer weaponry and equipment for the Lithuanian Land Force, air defence weaponry for the Air Defence Battalion, assisted the Military Medical Service in establishing healthcare clinics and donated equipment which served as a basis for the formation of the Sea Surveillance Information System.

Sweden also provides financing for training Lithuanian military and civilian personnel at military education institutions in Sweden.