On January 16, 2026, the Defence Ministers of Latvia and Sweden signed a document aimed at expanding defence sector cooperation across air, sea, and land domains. The agreement emphasizes industrial cooperation, covering important and effective systems such as the Archer wheeled artillery system, unmanned aerial vehicles, and protection of critical infrastructure. Latvia highlights Sweden’s military presence in Latvia as a demonstration of solidarity and NATO collective defense. The roadmap includes Sweden’s continued NATO multinational brigade presence in Latvia, support to maritime surveillance, and joint use of training facilities. Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen warplanes could be temporarily deployed in Latvia to enhance air defense. Both ministers stressed the strategic significance of cooperation in the Baltic Sea and Arctic region, with potential U.S. involvement and contributions from Denmark also noted. The cooperation is also coordinated with Sweden’s NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Conventional Military Pressure
Incident Type: Troop movements near borders
Country: Latvia
Source report: eng.lsm.lv/article/s…
