On December 15-16 Chief of Staff of the Swedish Army Major General Karl Engelbrektson is conducting a visit in Lithuania. On December 15 in Vilnius Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas and the guest discussed security situation in the region, and topical themes in Lithuanian amd Swedish armed forces. Lt Gen J.V.Žukas thanked for Sweden's support being given to the Lithuanian Armed Forces for over two decades, and benevolent cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats (NATO, NB8, NORDEFCO). Lithuania's Chief of Staff also invited to expand bilateral military cooperation between Lithuanian and Swedish land forces and proposed Sweden joining the NATO assurance measures in the Baltic region.
At a meeting with Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Valdemaras Rupšys bilateral military cooperation in the arrangement of exercises was discussed. Also, possibilities to send observers and soldiers to major military exercises in Sweden and Lithuania, thus creating a platform for the two countries' soldiers to exchange experience, were discussed; opportunities to share training experience in order to enhance the Lithuanian Land Force Juozas Lukša Training Centre and support for the Lithuanian Land Force in for integrating new artillery radars into the force were discussed.
Sweden's Chief of Army Staff Maj Gen K. Engelbrektson also visited the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius (NFIU) where he met with NFIU Commander Colonel Jakob Sogard Larsen, familiarised with the activity, mission and functions of the unit.
On December 16 the Swedish General and his delegation will meet with the leadership of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces.
Lithuanian-Swedish defence cooperation
Prior to Lithuania's NATO accession, defence cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden focused on Sweden's assistance to the Lithuanian Armed Forces. After Lithuania obtained NATO membership, the main projects of weaponry and equipment transfer, medical assistance, fitting up sea and coastal surveillance system, air defence battalion, and air base, to name but a few, were finished, and the scope of the assistance reduced. Bilateral cooperation from then on was based on cooperation between separate branches and units.
In 1997-2003 Sweden headed the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) project, coordinated assistance to the establishment and development of the College. When the Baltic states took on the financing and command of the College later, Sweden remained a close partner and sponsor of BALTDEFCOL. Roughly 100 soldiers and civil personnel of Lithuania have studied, undergone apprenticeships and qualification improvement at Sweden's military education institutions.
In 1998-2000 the Swedish Armed Forces delivered training for Lithuanian soldiers on operating close-range artillery air defence systems m/48 firing L-70 missiles. Sweden handed over the systems to the Lithuanian Armed Forces for a symbolic price in 2000. In 2014-2015 Sweden's SAAB Dynamics enterprise upgraded RBS-70 close range air defence systems (bought from Norway) missiles and launchers for Lithuania, while on the basis of a recently signed contract the company will also provide RBS-70 simulators and spare parts, and training for Lithuanian operators of the systems.
Currently the closest cooperation ties exist between the air forces and navies, and medical services. Bilateral cooperation programs are agreed on at headquarters level every year.
Sweden's and Lithuanian navies train in various joint exercises in the Baltic region: Host Nation Support Exercise Baltic Host, Mine Countermeasures Exercise in the Baltic Sea Open Spirit. In 2011 Swedish Air Force JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft took part in a Baltic Regional Training Event (BRTE) (since 2016, Baltic Alloy) held by the Allied Air Command in Rammstein alongside NATO equipment to ensure security of the airspace over the Baltic Sea. The Swedish Air Force has been a regular participant of those training events. In the first semester of 2015 Lithuanian soldiers performed standby for the Swedish-led European Union Battle Group (EU BG).
Sweden is also an active participant in the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) activities: it was the lead nation from 1997-2003, while at present Swedish students attend lectures at the Baltic Defence College.
Both countries take part proactively in the Nordic-Baltic Regional Defence Cooperation Initiative working to support defence and security reforms in Georgia and Ukraine.
On 9 June 2011 in Brussels the Lithuanian and the Swedish Ministers of Defence endorsed a bilateral agreement on defence cooperation which outlined objectives and principles areas and forms of the cooperation, etc. In the recent year the two countries' Chiefs of Defence and Ministers of Defence exchanged formal visits.
PAO for the Lithuanian Land Force Captain Donatas Suchockis
Contacts: 00370 5)278 5091, 00370 640 45380, donatas.suchockis@mil.lt
