President Donald Trump will meet with Prime Minister Stean Löfven in March to discuss international trade, security and investment.
“President Donald J. Trump will welcome Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of Sweden to the White House on March 6, 2018,” the White House said in a statement Tuesday. “President Trump looks forward to exchanging views on deepening the bilateral ties between the United States and Sweden, with a focus on trade and investment between our two countries.”
While trade and investment will be the focus of the meeting, the two leaders will also discuss regional security and shared defense goals.
Sweden began negotiating a $1.2 billion deal with Raytheon to purchase the Patriot air defense missile system with delivery targeted for 2020.
“Sweden’s announcement brings them closer to joining the growing group of European nations depending on the combat-proven Patriot to defend against ballistic and cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft and drones,” Raytheon said.
The Swedish government is expected to finalize its decision sometime in 2018.
The U.S. and Sweden have an agreement, signed in 2016, to collaborate on anti-submarine and anti-air defense.
Sweden is not a NATO member, but is considered a NATO partner and has seen increasing military activity near its coastline from Russian ships, submarines and aircraft.
