Peter Hultqvist

In the Budget Bill for 2020 the Government proposes that military defence will be allocated an additional five billion SEK for the year 2022. This investment is fully funded through a bank tax. The Budget Bill is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Denmark's new Defence minister Trine Bramsen visited Sweden on August 30 for bilateral talks with Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist. The ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation, the security policy situation in Northern Europe, international operations and other defence policy issues of common interest.

On 18 July, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in London agreeing to examine the possibilities for joint development of future combat aircraft capabilities and combat aircraft systems.

When Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist hosted his first official meeting with Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen, continued deepening of Finnish-Swedish bilateral defence cooperation and the security situation in the Baltic Sea region were on the agenda.

On 14 May, the chair of the Defence Commission, Björn von Sydow, submitted his final report to Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist.

Between 9 and 10 April a Nordic defence ministerial meeting was held on Gotland as part of Sweden’s Chairmanship of NORDEFCO in 2019. During the meeting, issues such as total defence, regional security, exercise cooperation and the follow-up of the political vision for the Nordic defence cooperation were discussed. In conjunction to the meeting Finland, Norway and Sweden signed an annex concerning security of supply, which constitutes a part of a wider Nordic defence materiel cooperation agreement. At the same time, Denmark declared its intent to sign the annex at a later stage.

The Nordic defence ministers will gather on Gotland on 9–10 April in the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). The agenda for the meeting includes total defence issues, regional security and the follow-up of the vision for Nordic defence cooperation amongst other. In conjunction to the meeting Finland, Norway and Sweden will sign an annex concerning security of supply, which constitutes a part of a wider Nordic defence materiel cooperation agreement. At the same time, Denmark will declare its intent to sign the annex.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in a ministers meeting in London on 3 April within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The meeting included a scenario-based discussion and discussions related to the upcoming JEF exercise Baltic Protector, in which Sweden will participate.

India’s Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman visited Sweden on 13 February for meetings with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist. The purpose of the visit was to sign a security protection agreement between Sweden and India.

During a ceremony in Stockholm, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and India’s Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman will sign a security protection agreement between Sweden and India.