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International defence cooperation

Sweden has extensive defence cooperation with other states and organisations. This cooperation is an integral part of the solidarity-based security policy upon which Sweden builds security together with others. International defence cooperation contributes to strengthening Sweden’s military capabilities to be able to respond to an armed attack. NATO is a defence Alliance whose purpose is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security. On 7 March 2024, Sweden became a full member of NATO.

Responsible ministers
Pål Jonson
Responsible ministries
Ministry of Defence

International defence cooperation

From the left Pål Jonson and Antti Häkkänen shaking hands.
Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Finland’ s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen met in Stockholm 6 of July 2023. Photo: Armin Dröge/Government Offices of Sweden

Bilateral defence cooperation

Cooperation with strategic allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom and the Nordic and Baltic countries is especially important for Sweden’s security. The cooperation between Sweden and Finland is our farthest-reaching form of defence cooperation.

From the left standing: Bjarni Benediktsson (Iceland), Bjørn Arild Gram (Norway), Pål Jonson (Sweden), Janne Kuusela (Finland) and Kasper Høeg-Jensen (Denmark).
The Nordic defence ministers met 22 of November 2023 in Stockholm within the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). Bjarni Benediktsson (Iceland), Bjørn Arild Gram (Norway), Pål Jonson (Sweden), Janne Kuusela, (Defence Policy Director from Finland) and Kasper Høeg-Jensen (Defense Housing Manager from Denmark). Photo: Niklas Forsström/Government Offices of Sweden

Multilateral defence cooperation

Important forms of multilateral cooperation take shape within the EU, the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), Framework Nations Concept (FNC), Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), NATO, NORDEFCO and the Northern Group.

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