Swedish Armed Forces set to strengthen NATO presence in Latvia

The Swedish Government has tasked the Armed Forces with the preparation of approximately 600 soldiers to join NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, the Forward Land Forces (FLF), in Latvia. This force will integrate into a brigade currently led by Canada, with deployment expected to commence in early 2025.

Defence Minister Pål Jonson emphasized the importance of this deployment, stating, “As a NATO member, Sweden is part of NATO’s collective defence and will contribute broadly to its activities and defence of the entire Alliance. The Government has tasked the Armed Forces with preparing a reduced battalion for participation in the FLF in Latvia.”

This strategic decision requires the Swedish Armed Forces to negotiate and conclude international agreements necessary for the deployment. Notably, the participation of Swedish forces abroad is subject to approval by the Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, which underscores the democratic oversight of Sweden’s international military engagements.

The FLF, established during the 2016 NATO Summit, aims to bolster the alliance’s eastern front through a multinational joint force presence in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, with additional deployments in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania since 2022.