Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said in London on Tuesday that Sweden is conducting naval exercises as part of the British-led Joint Military Intervention Force in the Baltic Sea.
“It is a security policy statement and a signal that we can work together and increase our military capabilities together and want to work together in different crisis situations.Said Hultqvist at a press conference.
“The invasion of Ukraine began in 2014 and now continues with actions taken by Russia in violation of international law.The Swedish Prime Minister confirmed. He added that Stockholm is ready to increase its support for Ukraine. As he said, the purpose of the naval exercises is to ensure freedom of navigation in the Baltic Sea.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia over Western countries have risen in recent months. The United States and its European allies announced further sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the two “people’s republics” in the Donetsk Basin the day before and ordered the deployment of “peacekeepers” in the breakaway territories.
Founded in December 2012, the JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) is an international force consisting of the Nordic nations with members from Great Britain, Denmark, the three Baltic states, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
