Military defence

The Government has decided to submit the Agreement on Defense Cooperation bill between Sweden and the United States to the Swedish Riksdag. The agreement complements Sweden’s NATO accession and strengthens the country’s defence by facilitating US military presence in Sweden.

On 6–10 May, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin and State Secretary Johan Berggren are visiting Washington D.C., where the aim is to strengthen transatlantic relations and deepen cooperation with the US on total defence and cybersecurity.

On 5 March, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius signed a letter of intent on deeper defence cooperation between Sweden and Germany.

In connection with the NORDEFCO ministerial meeting on 29–30 April in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, the Nordic defence ministers signed Vision 2030, a steering document on Nordic defence cooperation going forward. 

The Swedish Government has decided to task the Armed Forces with planning and preparing Swedish participation in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Forward Land Forces (FLF), in Latvia. The contribution will consist of a force equalling the size of a reduced battalion of 600 soldiers. It will be part of a brigade led by Canada beginning in early 2025.

On Friday, 26 April 2024, the Swedish Defence Commission submitted its final report on the development of the military defence, Strengthened defence capability, Sweden as an Ally, to Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

On 29–30 April, Mr Jonson will travel to the Faroe Islands to take part in the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) meeting of defence ministers, held in Tórshavn.

The European Commission has decided to provide financial support to industrial projects aimed at increasing ammunition production capacity. The Swedish Government has decided to co-finance one of the projects, provided that the Commission granted support. This project, run by the Nammo Sweden AB company, could eventually triple the capacity for filling artillery shells in the coming years.

Sweden intends to provide EUR 30 million in support for a Czech ammunition initiative for artillery shells to Ukraine. The Government has authorised the Defence Materiel Administration to negotiate and enter into an agreement with the responsible authority in Czechia.

On Monday 11 March, Sweden’s flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Together with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, a number of Ministers of the Swedish Government also took part. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Micael Bydén and the leaders of the Social Democrats, Sweden Democrats and Centre Party were in attendance as well.

All NATO member countries have now approved Sweden’s application for membership. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington DC to deposit Sweden’s instrument of accession.

On 5 March, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson received his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.

On 23 February, Sweden and Hungary entered into an agreement under which Hungary will purchase four new Gripen aircraft from Sweden. The agreement was signed when Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson visited Budapest.

The Swedish Government has given the Swedish Armed Forces a framework mandate to carry out and take part in military training of Ukrainian citizens in 2024. Ukraine has greatly appreciated the training support Sweden has provided thus far. Ongoing training activities are now being extended, with the possibility to supplement previous training initiatives with additional activities.

Today, 20 February, the Government presented the 15th and largest military support package to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022. Package 15 amounts to SEK 7.1 billion in current prices. It comprises a maritime initiative that includes Combat Boat 90s, small and fast motorboats (G-boats) and underwater weapons. The package also includes artillery ammunition, an anti-aircraft system, light anti-tank weapons, recoilless rifles, hand grenades, medical equipment, medical transport vehicles, food, and financial support to bilateral and multilateral projects or funds. It also involves financial support to enable Ukraine to purchase more Combat Vehicle 90s.

Check against delivery.

Check against delivery.

On Tuesday, 19 December 2023, the Swedish Defence Commission submitted its report on the state and further development of the total defence, with a focus on the civilian defence, to Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

On 18 December, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson travelled to Copenhagen for talks with Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen. Matters discussed during the visit included support to Ukraine, current NATO issues and the upcoming Danish Chairmanship of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) in 2024.

The Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) will constitute a framework for continued defence cooperation by regulating the conditions for the presence of US forces in Sweden.