The Armed Forces may order 60 Gripen E
The Swedish government has decided on the procurement of 60 JAS 39 E to the Swedish Armed Forces. The decision was taken with strong parliamentary approval. The Swedish Riksdag approved the government's proposal December 11.
Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices
Karin Enström new Minister for Defence
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has today, Wednesday 18 April, appointed Karin Enström as Minister for Defence and head of the Ministry of Defence. Karin Enström will take up her post with immediate effect. Karin Enström comes from Vaxholm and was formerly a captain in the Swedish Amphibious Corps. Most recently she has been Member of the Riksdag where she has chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs. She has previously served on the Riksdag Committee on Defence.
Sten Tolgfors resigns
As of today, the 29th of March, Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors resigns his position. Sten Tolgfors will return to the Swedish Parliament as the MP for his constituency Örebro.
International summit in Örebro on 15-16 November
On Tuesday 15 November and Wednesday 16 November, defence ministers and representatives of 13 countries - Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA - are meeting in Örebro to discuss common security issues and increased cooperation on defence.
Sweden currently chairs the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco) and is thus hosting three different meetings during the two days at Örebro Castle. There will be a Nordic defence minister meeting, a Nordic-Baltic meeting and a meeting of the Northern Group, which comprises most countries in northern Europe bordering the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Atlantic. The USA will also participate within the framework of Nordic-Baltic cooperation.
"It is great that Örebro can host the largest meeting of defence ministers in Sweden for a very long time, apart from during the Presidency of the EU. Regional cooperation in our region is very dynamic, which is something other European countries examine when they develop regional cooperation of their own," says Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors.
On Tuesday 15 November, there will be a Nordic and a Nordic-Baltic meeting of defence ministers, as well as a dinner followed by a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic countries and the USA. In addition to Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors, also participating in the three meetings are Norwegian defence minister Grete Faremo, Finnish defence minister Stefan Wallin, Danish defence minister Nick Haekkerup, Estonian defence minister Mart Laar, Latvian defence minister Artis Pabriks, and Lithuanian defence minister Rasa Jukneviciene. Iceland is being represented by Ambassador Gunnar Gunnarsson. From the USA, Assistant Secretary of Defence Alexander Vershbow is participating.
Among the issues that the Nordic ministers will discuss are increased defence cooperation and the possibility of increasing the capability and efficiency of armed forces through pooling and sharing. The possibility of increased Nordic cooperation in Afghanistan and veteran soldier issues will also be discussed.
The Nordic-Baltic meeting will continue to deal with enhanced cooperation on defence and veteran issues, discuss the opportunities of the armed forces to support civilian crisis management, and new threats and challenges that relate to IT security and energy security. In the meeting between the Nordic-Baltic countries and the USA, the security situation in Europe and defence reforms will be discussed.
On Wednesday 16 November, the ministers in the Northern Group will meet, during which Polish State Secretary Zbigniew Wlosowicz, UK Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond, Netherlands Minister of Defence Hans Hillen, and State Secretary Christian Schmidt of Germany will also participate. Topics for discussion include defence and security policy developments and issues related to how increased defence capability can be delivered via increased cooperation.
How will the Swedish Presidency take the EU defence policy further?
One of the EU objectives is to work for international peace and security. Consequently, the EU is cooperating in various ways in this area, including the capacity to implement joint operations, both military and civilian.
The Swedish Presidency will continue to develop the EU crisis management capability.
To learn more about the priorities of the Swedish Presidency, click on the link below.
How will the Swedish Presidency take the EU defence policy further?
One of the EU objectives is to work for international peace and security. Consequently, the EU is cooperating in various ways in this area, including the capacity to implement joint operations, both military and civilian.
The Swedish Presidency will continue to develop the EU crisis management capability.
To learn more about the priorities of the Swedish Presidency, click on the link below.
A functional defence - with a substantially strengthened defence capability
Sweden's defence must be well-prepared to be able to defend this country and to contribute to stability in the surrounding world. This requires a defence system that is adapted to today's threats and to the rapid sequences of events in which conflicts can arise and be determined. It requires a functional, available and flexible defence. For this reason, the Government is now setting a new direction for the Swedish defence system with a substantially strengthened defence capability.
New supreme commander appointed today
Lieutenant General Sverker Göranson of the Armed Forces was today appointed new Supreme Commander by the Government. He will take up his new position on the 25th of March.
Sweden strengthens its presence in Afghanistan
The Government wants to strengthen Swedish military presence through transport aircraft, ambulance helicopters and more training and coordination groups known as OMLT teams. The Swedish armed force in ISAF is expected to number about 500 people in 2009, compared with the current maximum of 390.
Sweden nominates the Supreme Commander General Håkan Syrén as next Chairman of the EU Military Committee
Sweden has nominated the current Supreme Commander, General Håkan Syrén, as its candidate for the chairmanship of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) after General Henri Bentégeat. The election of the next chairman will take place at the EUMC Chief of Defence meeting in Brussels on 29 October 2008 and the new chairman will take up the office in November 2009.
The EUMC is the EU's highest military body within the Council and consists of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States or their permanent representatives in Brussels. The defence chiefs meet twice a year, while their permanent representatives meet at least once a week. In the Military Committee the Member States cooperate in the field of conflict prevention, crisis management and capability development. The EUMC provides military advice.
The Chairman of the EUMC is a four star flag officer and the highest-ranking military officer in the EU. The appointment is for three years.
CEUMC represents the common view of the highest military representatives of the EU Member States in the political process in Brussels. CEUMC maintains close contact with the commanders of the EU military crisis management operations and with his NATO counterpart.
The main motives for the nomination of General Syrén are:
" The European Union has a special position in Swedish foreign and security policy and Sweden takes a proactive role in developing the EU as a global actor.
" Sweden contributes to a strong and active European Security and Defence Policy, which can complement the United Nations in promoting peace globally.
" Thanks to his vast experience and competence, General Syrén is well prepared for assuming the role as chairman of the EU Military Committee. He has carried out a thorough transformation of the Swedish Armed Forces and is strongly committed to the development of international defence cooperation. He also has an extensive international network.
