ZURICH, Jan 9 Sweden and the United States start negotiations under an agreement to expand defense cooperation, the Swedish government announced on Monday.
«Negotiations relate to the so-called Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which will provide a framework for continued defense cooperation by regulating the legal conditions for the presence of US troops in Sweden. The United States has entered into similar agreements with several other partner countries. DCA opens the way for even closer cooperation with the United States both on a bilateral basis and within NATO,” the Swedish authorities said in a statement.
It is noted that the agreement will allow regulating the conditions for the activities of US troops on the territory of Sweden. We are talking about issues such as the legal status of US military personnel, access to the territory of military bases, taxation and duties.
According to the Swedish government, the document will also create conditions for US military support if the security situation so requires. The implementation of the agreement will require amendments to the kingdom's constitution, which must be approved by the country's parliament.