Deputy Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson provided the following:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work visited Stockholm, Sweden, to meet with senior Swedish officials and hear their concerns about emerging security challenges in the region, April 25-27.
Work also participated in a meeting of U.S.-Nordic-Baltic countries, hosted by Sweden’s State Secretary Jan Salestrand, to discuss opportunities to further cooperation and address potential threats.
Meeting participants included secretaries from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S. This meeting followed, and built upon, the Nordic Deputy Defense Ministers meeting held in Oslo last September. During discussions, the participants discussed ways to enhance defense cooperation, including increasing deterrence of provocative Russian behavior; increased information sharing; and accelerating the counter-ISIL campaign. Work emphasized that such meetings are important opportunities for bilateral cooperation in areas of shared concern, as well as to exchange views on security challenges on Europe’s northern, eastern and southern flanks.
Separately, Work participated in discussions with Swedish Supreme Commander Gen. Micael Bydén, which focused on a wide range of bilateral initiatives. They discussed ways to further deepen military to military cooperation, as well as NATO partnership initiatives, regional security and defense priorities. Work assured Sweden of the U.S.’s commitment to bilateral cooperation, NATO's Enhanced Opportunity Partner Initiative as it relates to Sweden, and deterring Russian aggression.
Work visited a Swedish Air Force squadron and toured the Visby-class corvette HMS Karlstad, where he thanked Swedish military members for their service.
Throughout the visit, Work discussed the development of the Third Offset Strategy with leaders and reaffirmed the close and historic friendship between the U.S. and Sweden. The deputy secretary thanked each of his Nordic and Baltic counterparts for their contributions to international security.
This trip will conclude April 29, following a visit to Belgium.