Next Defence Attaché of Sweden Commander Niklas Johansson was accredited to Lithuania at a ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence Monday. It was brought to his attention that Lithuania and Sweden were bound by particularly close relations, shared values, interests and views on the European security and defence as the incoming official was wished best of luck in the office.
“Sweden was one of the main supporters who help to rebuild the Lithuanian Armed Forces from scratch. WE also received abundant assistance and help from Sweden ahead of our NATO membership and we will always be grateful for that. Now we look forward for Sweden becoming a member of NATO very shortly a well. It will doubtlessly increase security in the Baltic Sea region and make the Alliance even stronger,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
While Sweden has not yet become a member of NATO, our countries are bound together by plenty of other ties in defence area. Regular bilateral meetings are held to exchange views on existing and potential security challenges. We are also members in the same formats, such as the JEF, NB8 and the Norther Group. Our Armed Forces train together at exercises at the level of all services: Sweden train in NATO and national Lithuanian exercise alike.
The incoming Defence Attaché has served across different units of the Swedish Armed Forces. His most recent previous appointment was in a military infrastructure management subdivision in 2020.
At the same ceremony outgoing Defence Attaché Lt Col Lars Eklind was decorated with the National Defence System level Medal of Merit for the effort put into strengthening bilateral cooperation.
