Defence

Stockholm 15 June 2020. Check against delivery.

At the government meeting on 4 June, the Government decided to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation with the aim of strengthening efforts against foreign direct investments that threaten Swedish security and public order. At the same time, the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) have been given assignments to further develop these efforts.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist met his colleagues in the Northern Group security and defence policy forum on 20 May. On the agenda was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and allied military capabilities and preparedness.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist attended a video conference meeting of NATO defence ministers on 15 April to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Finland’s defence minister and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also attended.

The EU defence ministers held a video conference on 6 April. They discussed the latest developments and national responses to COVID-19. Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in the video conference from Stockholm.

6 April 2020 Check against delivery.

Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist participated on March 30 in a teleconference with the other Nordic defence ministers within the framework of the Nordic defence cooperation NORDEFCO. The Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen hosted the meeting. The focus of the ministers' discussions was on the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist attended on 27 March a telephone conference with five other European Defense Ministers and the Defense Ministers in Mali and Niger to discuss a Task Force in the southeastern Mali - operation Takuba. The meeting, which was chaired by the French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly, was held remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chatham House, 12 March 2020. As prepared. Check against delivery.

Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist meets with Britain's Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin in London on 11 March. The agenda includes discussing regional security in Northern Europe, the joint Future Combat Air Systems Cooperation (FCASC), the defence cooperation Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and the upcoming Swedish defence exercise Aurora 20. Peter Hultqvist will also be the keynote speaker at the conference "A New Era of Strategic Competition" at the think tank Chatham House.