Rose Gottemoeller, NATO’s deputy secretary-general, said during a visit to Stockholm that the Western alliance hoped to deepen its strong partnership with Sweden when it comes to security issues, NATO-EU cooperation, and combatting Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign. During a meeting with Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, she praised Sweden’s contributions to international security, including sending contingents on NATO missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq, as well as the Swedish military’s participation in NATO security exercises in the Baltic Sea. Unlike most of Western Europe, non-NATO members Sweden and Finland have maintained strong national defence forces since the end of the Cold War. The countries maintain and develop advanced territorial defence capabilities as well as enhanced bilateral cooperation agendas, while also bolstering their ties with NATO.
- New Europe -