Latvia and Sweden Strengthen NATO Ties and Support for Ukraine’s Security

Latvia and Sweden Strengthen NATO Cooperation

Latvia and Sweden are strong NATO allies. They share firm views on the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine and on limiting Russia’s actions. This includes implementing further sanctions to reduce Russia’s income, which funds its war against Ukraine. Latvia and Sweden will continue to work together to expand the sanctions regime, including curbing the activities of “shadow fleets.” They also agree on the importance of developing the European security industry and increasing EU investments in defense.

Sweden’s EU Affairs Minister, Jessica Rosencrantz, has been in office since September 10, 2024. Her visit to Latvia marks her first bilateral meeting with a NATO member state.

During the meeting, Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže thanked Sweden for its decision to send armed forces to Latvia as part of NATO’s multinational brigade rotation beginning in 2025.

Braže expressed satisfaction with the active cooperation under the NB6 format. This cooperation focuses on coordinating positions within the EU, especially regarding support for Ukraine. The Baltic and Nordic countries are the second largest military supporters of Ukraine. Officials confirmed their commitment to continue providing military assistance and aid to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been severely damaged by Russian attacks.

Braže strongly supports Sweden’s proposal to the European Commission to raise tariffs on imports from Russia and Belarus. This plan aims to decrease Russia’s revenue.

In discussions with Parliamentary Secretary Dace Melbārde, officials talked about EU support for Ukraine, issues of EU competitiveness and security, and the EU expansion process. They emphasized the progress of Ukraine and Moldova. Ahead of the European Council meeting on December 19 and 20, they reviewed external relations and rule of law issues within the EU.

Melbārde pointed out that we live in a time affected by the realities of the war in Ukraine. She noted the importance of EU values and cooperation. The priority is to create a resilient, competitive, and secure Europe. Focus should also be on strengthening the defense industry and infrastructure at the EU level, particularly in planning the next multi-annual budget.

About NATO’s Multinational Brigade in Latvia

Currently, Canada leads the NATO multinational brigade in Latvia. The brigade consists of over 3,500 troops from 13 countries: Albania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Canada, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and North Macedonia. Swedish armed forces will be deployed to Latvia in early 2025.

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