For the first time in more than 20 years, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will set foot on Swedish soil, Swedish Defense Secretary Paul Jonsson said on April 14, Expressen reported.
Austin will arrive in Sweden to meet Jonsong on Tuesday, April 18. The meeting will take place at the Musko military base near Stockholm, the US Secretary of Defense will remain in Sweden until Thursday, April 20.
On the agenda, among other things, the application of Sweden to NATO and the situation with the security policy in Europe. According to Jonsson, the visit will be an indication that the US side supports Sweden in its quest for security and NATO membership.
“We already feel strong support and a strong commitment to Sweden’s NATO membership. The fact that the Secretary of Defense of the United States is visiting us for the first time in more than 20 years is, of course, also an expression of that.”Jonsson said in response to a question about whether Sweden’s offer to join a military alliance would be discussed.
It should be noted that the situation in Taiwan will also be discussed during the meeting. The issue came to the fore when French President Emanuel Macron said recently that he wanted to see a more independent European position on the issue and not be under US control.
“The United States supports the one-China policy. Sweden and the EU also do this, so I don’t see any difference here.”Johnson pointed out.
Recall that on April 14, the press service of the US Department of Defense published information on the official Internet portal that Austin plans to visit Sweden next week. The meeting will discuss security-related issues of mutual interest to the two countries. After that, Austin will travel to Germany for a Ukrainian Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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