This is the first time a JEF Joint Response Option has been activated. Sweden is participating with two Visby corvettes.
– It is about conducting maritime surveillance, around 20 naval vessels will be active in the Baltic Sea but also parts of the North Atlantic to consider the security situation and better protect critical underwater infrastructure, says Pål Jonson to SVT News.
The protection of underwater infrastructure has increasingly moved up the agenda. Among other things, it was discussed during the JEF summit in October which Sweden hosted on Gotland. During an informal working breakfast between NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the EU's defence ministers, it was also up for discussion.
– It is strategically important that JEF now strengthens its presence in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic, in light of the threats against critical underwater infrastructure. JEF is a rapid and flexible framework well-suited to contribute to addressing these threats. JEF countries are united, coordinated, and ready to act, says Defence Minister Pål Jonson in a press release from the Ministry of Defence on 28 November.
JEF has developed a number of different so-called response options over the year. They are designed to deter and defend the region from various threats. The operation will be conducted from 1-15 December and also includes air resources, write JEF's defence ministers in a joint statement on 28 November.