Last updated: 27 Oct. 2021 13:08
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised Finland and Sweden’s close partnership with NATO while visiting the Berga Naval Base with the North Atlantic Council, on Wednesday (27 October 2021). During the visit, they had the opportunity to witness the joint Swedish/Finnish Naval Exercise, SWENEX-21.
“It is important that NATO Allies, Finland and Sweden continue to train and exercise together” said the Secretary General. “Over the years, we have been working more and more closely together and we have seen the security situation in the region deteriorate, with Russia’s aggressive posturing and its military build-up. This makes our cooperation even more important” he added, speaking alongside the Swedish Defence Minister, Peter Hultqvist, and the Finnish Defence Minister, Antti Kaikkonen.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the value of the Alliance’s partnership with Sweden during a visit to Stockholm, with ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council, on Tuesday (26 October 2021).
The Secretary-General met with His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, and held talks with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. He praised Sweden’s contributions to NATO missions and operations, from the Western Balkans to Iraq. The Secretary-General and Prime Minister discussed progress in strengthening cooperation between NATO and Sweden, including with greater information exchanges, joint exercises and political dialogue.
Separately, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană and NATO ambassadors participated in a seminar on ‘Security Challenges in the Baltic Sea region’, hosted by Foreign Minister Linde, Defence Minister Hultqvist, and Home Affairs Minister Damberg.
The Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the North Atlantic Council also met with the Speaker of the Parliament, Andreas Norlén, and senior representatives of the Swedish Parliament. On Wednesday, the Council will visit the Berga Naval Base, together with Finland and Sweden’s defence ministers. They will have an opportunity to see the joint Swedish and Finnish naval exercise, SWENEX-21.
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The Secretary-General welcomed the close cooperation between NATO and Finland on security in the Baltic Sea region, as well as in the High North. “Together, we make the Euro-Atlantic region more secure and more stable, including through NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the Baltic region, our air policing mission and of course Finland’s commitment to its national defence,” he said.
Mr. Stoltenberg praised Finland for its contributions to international peace and security, from the Western Balkans to Iraq. The Secretary General and President Niinistö also discussed NATO’s Open Door policy and the Secretary General reiterated that the Alliance’s door remains open to countries in Europe that meet the criteria for membership.