In Latvia, the mission is led by a Danish divisional staff. The plan is that Sweden and Denmark will share the responsibility of establishing a battalion as part of a brigade deployed in Riga. The Danish and Swedish troop contributions will alternate every six months. The Swedish contribution will consist of a mechanised battalion starting in 2025 at the earliest.
Once in Latvia, the plan is to continue exercising in a multinational context with other units in the division, with the principal task of deterring a potential Russian attack. No formal governmental decision has been made as yet, concerning this troop contribution, but the in the army planning is well under way.
”This will be one of the most visible contributions to Nato’s collective defence, initially, and we take this task very seriously. Just as the ability to receive military support in Sweden, the ability to offer support beyond Swedish borders is decisive for our future role in Nato” says Major General Jonny Lindfors, Chief of the Army.
South Skåne Regiment, P 7, will be the first unit on site following the Swedish accession, with a 600-strong troop contribution.
”We have started planning for this and on condition that a decision is made, we are prepared to solve the task”, says Colonel Lennart Widerström, chief of P 7.
NATO FORWARD LAND FORCES
Nato Forward Land Forces (FLF) are multinational battle groups deployed in eight countries in Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
The battle groups are not identically structured, but differ in size and arms of the military, depending on the specific geographical conditions in each host nation.
The Swedish Armed Forces’ troop contribution will be a ground combat unit in Latvia, led by a Danish chief of division. The first contribution is expected to consist of 600 soldiers and officers, the majority of which from the 71 st Battalion.