Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work discussed ways to deepen military-to-military cooperation, NATO partnership initiatives, regional security and other defense priorities with Sweden's Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist at the Pentagon today according to a DoD news release.
During the 30-minute meeting, Work assured Hultqvist of the U.S. commitment to bilateral cooperation, NATO's Enhanced Opportunity Partner Initiative as it relates to Sweden, and deterring Russian aggression, the release said.
The deputy secretary lauded Sweden's continued leadership in the Nordic-Baltic region, and voiced support for joint training and exercises designed to sustain Sweden's interoperability with NATO.
According to the release, Work ended by affirming the U.S. and Sweden have a strong defense relationship underpinned by robust cooperation in areas such as joint training, exercises and information exchange.