STOCKHOLM - NATO's Operational Concept Capability (OCC) and Evaluation and Feedback Department held their annual conference in Sweden from Oct. 15 to 20, 2023 to discuss further opportunities to develop and enhance cooperation with Partner nations.
As Sweden moves closer to full NATO Accession... our experience continues to reinforce NATO's wider Collective Defence Concept
The aims of the conference were to assess and agree a wide range of mechanisms and events that reinforces interoperability and building capabilities. The conference was welcomed by Brigadier General Stefan Andersson, Exercise Director Swedish Defence Staff, and led by Brigadier General Martin Remes, Assistant Chief of Staff Military Cooperation SHAPE Partnerships.
Exercise Aurora 23, held in Sweden from Apr. 17 to May 11, 2023, focused on defending Swedish forces running fluid and focussed operations to defeat the invading enemy forces. Deputy Chief of Staff Partnerships Directorate Rear Admiral Gunnstein Bruåsdal visited the exercise. - NATO Photo by SHAPE Public Affairs Office
“It is a privilege for Sweden to host the OCC conference for the second time and always a pleasure to meet all the Partner Nation Military Representatives. As Sweden moves closer to full NATO Accession, and as a leading operational Partner, our experience continues to reinforce NATO's wider Collective Defence Concept,” said Brigadier General Andersson.
Earlier this year Sweden undertook the largest National Defence Exercise, AURORA 23, with over 26,000 personnel participating. Ten NATO nations were involved, defending Sweden from an exercise aggressor. The exercise very visibly demonstrated Sweden's interoperability with other NATO forces, and its commitment and ability to defend Swedish territory along with our partners.
NATO and Sweden have long shared common values. As one of NATO’s closest partners, Sweden has cooperated extensively with the Alliance for several decades joining the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme in 1994 and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (a multilateral forum for dialogue that brings together all Allies and partner countries in the Euro-Atlantic area) in 1997.