Defence

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist visited Karlskrona together with his Finnish counterpart Antti Kaikkonen on 9–10 March. The ministers discussed the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, bilateral defence cooperation, coming exercises, international missions and other issues of common interest.

On Wednesday 19 February, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist received Hungary’s Minister of Defence Tibor Benkö at Karlberg Palace for a bilateral meeting.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist attended the Munich Security Conference (MSC) from 14 to 16 February. This year’s theme was “Is the world becoming less Western?”.

Munich, 15 February 2020 Check against delivery.

On Wednesday 19 February, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist will receive Hungary’s Minister of Defence Tibor Benkö at Karlberg Palace for a bilateral meeting.

The Government decided on 6 February to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation on operational military support between Sweden and Finland. The legislative proposal aims, among other things, to enable faster decisions on providing and receiving operational military support within the framework of Swedish-Finnish defence cooperation.

In this Communication, the Swedish Government provides an account of Sweden’s export control policy with respect to military equipment and dual-use items in 2018. The Communication also contains a report detailing exports of military equipment during the year. In addition, it describes the cooperation in the EU and other international forums on matters relating to strategic export controls on both military equipment and dual-use items.

Sweden’s year as chair of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) was summarised when the Nordic defence ministers met in Stockholm on 19 November. "In 2019, Sweden and our Nordic neighbours have jointly laid the foundation for closer dialogue in the event of a serious crisis or conflict in our region. We have strengthened our ability to reach a common understanding of the security situation during a crisis", says Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist.

The Nordic defence ministers will meet on 19–20 November within the framework of the common Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). Sweden holds the chair in 2019, and the ministers are expected to agree on matters such as a mechanism for crisis consultations between defence ministries.

The Nordic defence ministers will meet on 19–20 November in Stockholm within the framework of Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). The issues the ministers will discuss include a common platform for dialogue on security and defence policy for more efficient practical defence cooperation.

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.

The defence ministers and supreme commanders from the nations of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) met in Klaipėda, Lithuania, on 28 June. Sweden was represented by Policy Director Johan Lagerlöf and Chief of Defence Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces Jonas Haggren.

State Secretary Jan-Olof Lind hosted the Nordic permanent secretaries meeting that was held in Luleå on 23–24 May within the framework of the Swedish chairmanship of NORDEFCO. The agenda included information about national defence plans, international cooperation and total defence. In connection with the meeting, the state secretaries visited the Arctic Challenge Exercise.

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.