On September 6-7 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas conducted a formal two-day visit in Sweden. In Stockholm he met Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist and Chief of Defence General Micael Bydén and discussed security situation in the region, participation of the countries' armed forces in multinational operations, bilateral and multilateral military cooperation.
Lt Gen J.V. Žukas also expanded his knowledge of Sweden's military capabilities and their activity in the country and abroad, as well as development plans, and discussed cooperation via different international formats - NATO, NB8, NORDEFCO and the JEF.
"We have focused on the security situation in the Baltic Sea region because we share the concern about it," Lithuanian Chief of Defence said.
The counterparts also exchange experience in training force reserve. "Sweden plans conscripting up to 4 thousand youth on an annual basis, just like Lithuania does. It also expects there will be a sufficient number of volunteers, just like in Lithuania too. It is really great that the societies of both countries support the idea of conscription in the face of threats to national security and understanding their civic duties. Those are crucial factors when training a reserve and preparing for national defence," Lt Gen J.V.Žukas said.
During the visit Lithuania Chief of Defence also paid a flower tribute to the fallen soldiers of Sweden, met with the Ambassador of Lithuania in Sweden HE Algimantas Rimkūnas, visited the 4th Naval Warfare Flotilla at Haninge Garrison.
According to Lt Gen J. V. Žukas, it was one of the warmest receptions during a formal visit abroad he had experienced. "Swedish Chief of Defence's attention was particularly heartfelt and exceptional," General said when back in Lithuania.
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Lithuania and Sweden have been developing bilateral defence cooperation for over two decades. Before Lithuania entered NATO in 2004, Sweden was one of the key partners helping it build national armed forces. Sweden donated a great amount of weaponry, military vehicles, medical equipment, provided comprehensive support for developing sea and coastal surveillance system, Air Defence Battalion, Air Base, and training Lithuanian forces. Once Lithuania became a member of NATO, defence cooperation with Sweden entered a new level, i.e., experience sharing, information exchange, joint participation in different multilateral projects.
In the recent years Swedish and Lithuanian troops are training in various joint exercises in the Baltic region, were assigned to a joint standby for the EU Nordic Battle Group in the first semester of 2015. Both countries take part proactively in the Nordic-Baltic Regional Defence Cooperation Initiative working to support defence and security reforms in Georgia and Ukraine.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces
