Defence

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

On Tuesday, 14 May 2019, the Swedish Defence Commission presented its final report, Defensive power – Sweden’s Security Policy and the Development of its Military Defence 2021-2025 to Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist.

On Tuesday 14 May, the Swedish Defence Commission will present its final report on the direction of security policy and the design of the military defence for 2021–2025 to Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist. The Defence Commission will then hold a press conference.

The Swedish chairmanship of NORDEFCO will host a meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in Stockholm on 14 May 2019.

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.

In 2019 Sweden holds the chairmanship of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). During the year, the Nordic ministers of Defence will conduct two ministerials and several meetings will be held on political and military levels. Sweden’s priorities during its chairmanship will cover enhanced military cooperation as well as facilitation of armaments cooperation. In 2019 the Nordic countries also celebrates 10 years of defence cooperation within the NORDEFCO format.