Estonia, Sweden Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement
Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo and his Swedish counterpart Sten Tolgfors have signed a bilateral agreement that provides a formal framework for defense cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement sets the main priorities for defense-related cooperation, the most important of which are related to procurement, educating and training of Defense Forces and information exchange, according to a statement from the Estonian MOD.
The agreement was signed at a meeting between the two ministers in Tartu, where Tolgfors was on a one-day working visit.
"At the bilateral meeting, we mostly discussed the future of the Baltic Defense College and the possibility of turning it into a regional defense-related educational institution for Northern Europe, which would offer higher military education for officers from NATO, the European Union and partner states," said Aaviksoo.
The defense ministers also discussed issues concerning the cooperation between the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States, regional security, cyber and energy security and the EU Nordic Battle Group.
Last summer the two countries signed a framework agreement for possible joint procurements of weaponry, equipment and ammunition. Sweden has also donated weaponry and equipment to the Estonian Defense Forces.
This year up to 55 Estonian Defense Forces soldiers will be participating in the EU Nordic Battle Group under Swedish command.