Vice Minister thanked Sweden for the support to the Lithuanian Armed Forces and praised the increasingly growing cooperation among all services of Sweden’s and Lithuania’s armed forces, especially in the area of exercises. Recently soldiers of Lithuania and Sweden have been participating regularly in international training and exercises in the Baltic region. “We are very happy about the pace of exercises and we expect to keep it up in the future,” V. Umbrasas said.
The meeting officials also discussed European Union and NATO initiatives and shared plans and objectives for the nearest future. Both countries are taking part in the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) format aimed at strengthening European cooperation in the area of security and defence. V. Umbrasas informed the guest that in 2018 Lithuania took the role of leadership in strengthening cyber security in international space and continues to lead successfully on of EU initiatives for the formation of joint cyber rapid response teams. The projects already includes 13 participants and it is one of the most progressed projects.
Vice Minister also thanked Swedish State Secretary for the annual his country’s participation in the Eastern Partnership Summit held in Vilnius and invited to continue the active involvement.
V. Umbrasas also expressed his delight about the development of the United Kingdom-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and the active involvement of all the contributing JEF countries, including Lithuania and Sweden, in seeking a closer cooperation. Vice Minister underscored that participation of the Nordic-Baltic Eight initiatives was very important to Lithuania.
The Lithuanian-Swedish defence cooperation has been active since Lithuania’s restoration of independence. Prior to Lithuania’s NATO accession, defence cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden focused on Sweden’s assistance to the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Weaponry and equipment were transferred, projects of medical assistance, fitting up sea and coastal surveillance system, air defence battalion, and air base, to name but a few, were completed, Lithuanian officers studied at Swedish military education institutions.
Lithuania and Sweden cooperate as part of various multinational security and defence formats, such as the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy, UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, Nordic-Baltic 8, Northern Group, etc.
The present-day cooperation between Lithuanian and Swedish militaries is developed at unit level, with the closest cooperation ongoing between air and naval forces, and military medical services.
