Portal: Sweden may contribute to Estonia’s defense when NATO member | News
With reference to a report issued by the Swedish Armed Forces and covered by SVT, Delphi reports (link in Estonian) that Sweden sees itself, given its geographical location, as playing a major role in the defense and security of both Finland and the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and could contribute on land, at sea and in the air.
There is not only room for Sweden’s air force to contribute to the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission based in Ämari, Estonia, and in Šiauliai, Lithuania, but also for both naval and ground forces to participate, although the report did not elaborate on these, Delfi adds.
In addition, strategically important parts of Sweden should see additional domestic military presence, with the aim of protecting the region and the alliance.
The report outlined various possible developments once Sweden’s NATO membership is final, with a representative of its armed forces saying the planning process had progressed “quite far”.
Sweden’s application for NATO membership was submitted in May, the same day Finland did the same, but while Estonia ratified both countries’ membership in early July, some member states have yet to do so.
Estonia joined NATO in 2004 and the alliance’s jets have patrolled its airspace, along with that of Latvia and Lithuania, ever since.
In practice, Sweden has been participating in NATO-led exercises and organizations, such as the Tallinn-based Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE), for several years. It has also recently strengthened its defenses on the strategically important island of Gotland, which lies a little more than 100 km southwest of the Estonian island of Ösel.
The original Delphi piece (in Estonian) is here.
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