Swedish Chief of Defence visits SHAPE

MONS, Belgium – The Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces General Micael Bydén visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, to meet with Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Curtis M. Scaparrotti and SHAPE senior leadership.

During the visit, General Scaparrotti greeted General Bydén before being welcomed into SHAPE headquarters by the SHAPE Honour Guard. The leaders then met for a routine office call.

"It is critical to maintain our relationship and to keep an open dialogue with an important partner like Sweden," said General Scaparrotti. "General Bydén and I were able to discuss Sweden's current and future commitment and proactivity within our organisation."

It is critical to maintain our relationship and to keep an open dialogue with an important partner like Sweden

As a partner nation to NATO, Sweden recently contributed to Exercise Trident Juncture in Nov. 2018 by providing troops to participate in the exercise in host nation Norway. Sweden also supported maritime and air operations during the month-long exercise, which was NATO's largest in more than thirty years.

Sweden joined NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme in 1994 and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997. Sweden is one of NATO's most active partners and a valued contributor to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office