Sweden has announced its plans to join the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia

17 October, 2024 Military of Sweden during exercises. Photo: Ministry of Defense of Sweden A Swedish military contingent will join the NATO multinational group in Latvia.

Militarnyi's correspondent reports on this based on a briefing by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Brussels. Last week, the Swedish government presented a bill that proposes a further contribution to the deterrence and defense of the North Atlantic Alliance. It includes troops for NATO's battlegroup in Latvia, combat aircraft for NATO's air policing mission, and ships for the alliance's standing naval force.

"Sweden has also offered to lead a new NATO battlegroup to be established in Finland," Ulf Kristersson said.

Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. October 2024, Belgium. Photo credits: Government of Sweden

After 200 years of neutrality, Sweden joined the organization in March 2024 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced it to reconsider its national security policy.

The deployment of troops to Latvia will be the first for Sweden as a member of the North Atlantic Alliance. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard previously stated that the commitment to collective defense is unwavering across all allies. "The deployment of the battalion will help make Latvia, Sweden, and NATO as a whole safer," she said.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds thanked the Swedish partners for their decision to strengthen the Alliance and the Baltic region.

Swedish and US military personnel. Photo credits: forsvarssektorn.se

In early October, he visited a military base in southern Sweden, where he was presented a unit that would send 600 soldiers to NATO forces in Latvia. This regiment will deploy to the country in early 2025 and join the Canadian-led ground brigade.

In August, it was reported that Sweden was considering sending military advisors to Ukraine.