Sweden will next year contribute a reduced battalion to NATO forces in Latvia to help support the Baltic state following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Thursday.
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The Swedish troop contribution was the first to be announced since the Scandinavian country joined NATO in March.

Kristersson had in January announced that Sweden would likely send a battalion to take part in NATO’s permanent multinational mission in Latvia, dubbed the Enhanced Forward Presence, aimed at boosting defence capacity in the region.
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“The government this morning gave Sweden’s armed forces the formal task of planning and preparing for the Swedish contribution of a reduced mechanised battalion to NATO’s forward land forces in Latvia,” Kristersson told reporters during a press conference with his Latvian counterpart Evika Silina.

He said the battalion, which will be in Latvia for six months, would be comprised of around 400 to 500 troops.
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“Our aim is a force contribution, including CV 90s armoured vehicles and Leopard 2 main battle tanks.”

“We’re planning for the deployment early next year after a parliament decision,” he said.

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