Military defence

On Tuesday 23 May, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will take part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting with defence ministers in Brussels.

Tartu, Estonia 2 March 2023. Check against delivery.

On Thursday 16 March, the Government presented a strategic partnership with the United Kingdom to support Ukraine. The cooperation aims to improve logistics and maintenance of the Archer artillery units that Sweden intends to donate to Ukraine. It is proposed that eight units is to be donated, of which two are part of the maintenance system. The cooperation includes authorisation to sell 14 Archer artillery units to the UK, which allows the UK to donate the AS90 artillery system to Ukraine. An additional amending budget also includes proposals to authorise the donation of previously announced Leopard 2 battle tanks and to provide funds for the replenishment of defence equipment.

On 26 April 2023, the Swedish Defence Commission submitted a midterm report to the Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. The report was agreed upon by all political parties represented in the Riksdag. The report included three parts: a review of the implementation of the Government Bill Totalförsvaret 2021–2025 (Total Defence 2021–2025) that the Government adopted on 15 December 2020, suggestions on how Sweden should report its defence expenditures to NATO and a proposal on general guidelines for defence spending between 2026–2030. One of the main conclusions is that the next defence bill should be adopted one year earlier than planned, in 2025 instead of 2026.

On Wednesday 19 April, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will receive United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The visit will take place at the Muskö Naval Base, where the ministers will convene for a bilateral meeting, hold a joint press conference and take part in a demonstration of the Swedish Armed Forces’ military capabilities.

Today the Government has presented investment proposals that will be included in its Spring Amending Budget. The proposals aim to create conditions for the continued growth of Sweden’s military defence and make preparations for NATO membership. Increased appropriations totalling SEK 660 million are proposed in the Spring Amending Budget for 2023. In addition, it is proposed that the Swedish Armed Forces’ authorisation to place orders be increased by SEK 16.78 billion.

On Tuesday 7 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. In connection with the visit, Mr Kristersson invited the leaders of the parties in the Riksdag who support Sweden’s NATO accession to a joint meeting with Mr Stoltenberg. At an extraordinary government meeting on Tuesday evening, the Government also took the formal decision to present the NATO bill to the Riksdag.

The government bill is an important step on the path to NATO membership. The Riksdag’s approval is required for Sweden to accede to NATO.

On 7–8 March, EU defence ministers will gather for an informal meeting in Stockholm.

Today, 24 February, the Government presented a new extensive support package for Ukraine. It includes subsystems of the HAWK anti-aircraft system and essential parts of the IRIS-T anti-aircraft system, in cooperation with Germany. Sweden also intends to provide up to ten Leopard 2 battle tanks.

On 1 January, Sweden assumed the chairmanship of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). As chair, Sweden is focusing on continued support to Ukraine and adapting cooperation to the new defence and security policy situation in Europe.

Opening speech by the Minister for Defence Pål Jonson at the conference on security and defence within the framework of Sweden's presidency of the EU on 30 January 2023, Uppsala. Check against delivery.

After a meeting of the new National Security Council on 24 January, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson held a press conference on the NATO accession process and Swedish security.

Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Finland’s Minister of Defence Mikko Savola have signed a Finnish-Swedish letter of intent that will enable Finland to provide Ukraine with heavy military weapons at a replacement cost of more than SEK 4.11 billion (EUR 370 million).

The Government today presented a large three-part support package to Ukraine. The package includes a procurement cooperation scheme, instructions to the Swedish Armed Forces to prepare the transfer of the Archer Artillery System, and the largest defence equipment package to date. This includes recoilless rifles with ammunition, anti-tank weapons, assault rifles, mine clearance equipment, Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) with ammunition, and light anti-armour weapon Robot 57 (NLAW), worth SEK 4.3 billion. 

Speech by Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin, delivered at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 9 January 2023. Check against delivery.

Speech by Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, delivered at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 9 January 2023. Check against delivery.

Speech by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, delivered at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 8 January 2023. Check against delivery.