Sweden is contributing three ships from its fleet to a NATO patrol mission that will soon be deployed in the Baltic Sea to protect underwater infrastructure, marking the country's first such participation in a NATO mission.
As reported by SVT, “European Pravda” writes, this was announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on January 12 at a briefing on the sidelines of a security conference in the Swedish city of Sälen.
Kristersson announced that Sweden will send three ships of its fleet and a surveillance aircraft to participate in a NATO patrol operation in the Baltic Sea, the task of which will be to monitor underwater critical infrastructure.
“These warships are being transferred to NATO command and will be used to create better conditions for understanding the maritime situation in the Baltic Sea. This is a significant and important contribution from Sweden… and the first time that Sweden as an ally has contributed its armed forces to NATO's deterrence and defence measures right next to our borders,” said Ulf Kristersson.
In his speech at the conference, Kristersson expressed the opinion that Sweden is currently in a situation “not of war, but not of peace either.”
Back in early January, the countries of the “Joint Expeditionary Force” format, which unites Britain, Scandinavia, the Baltics and the Netherlands, launched enhanced monitoring of underwater infrastructure using a new system that will help identify potential threats and quickly notice suspicious actions by vessels.