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 is presenting the 2023 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill and the Spring Amending Budget for 2023. Sweden’s economy is in recession, with the highest inflation in more than 30 years. In light of this, the Government is presenting a Spring Amending Budget aimed at protecting particularly vulnerable households and lowering inflation. The budget is based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats.
Today, 5 April, 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 Friday 31 March, Minister for EU Affairs Jessika Roswall held a press briefing on the occasion of the halfway point of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
On Thursday 30 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Austria’s Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The visit took place as part of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and will focus on migration issues and continued support to Ukraine. A joint press conference was held after the meeting.
One year ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Sweden has provided humanitarian, military and civil support to Ukraine. Sweden’s military support to Ukraine has more than tripled since the current Government took office. Over the last twelve months, the EU – including Sweden – has adopted a series of sweeping sanctions packages against Russia Sweden will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström today presented the Government’s Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. This year’s Statement of Foreign Policy is Mr Billström’s first in his ministerial post.
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.
Sweden holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2023.
Since December 2021, disinformation has been spread concerning Swedish social services taking Muslim children into care without a legal basis. According to the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, there are no indications that the campaign will cease in the near future. Social services employees are being threatened and, in the worst case scenario, this risks leading to children in Sweden not receiving the social support to which they are entitled. The Government is now taking several measures to counteract the disinformation that is being disseminated.
Sweden and the rest of the EU have expressed clear support for the Iranians, especially women and girls, who are peacefully demonstrating for their human rights. Sweden has individually, and together with the other EU Member States, condemned the violence that the Iranian authorities have used against demonstrators. Sweden has also called for those responsible for the death of Mahsa Jina Amini to be held accountable.
Published · Press release from Carl-Oskar Bohlin , Ministry of Defence
Published · Article from Elisabeth Svantesson , Ministry of Finance
Published · Article from Jessika Roswall , Government , Prime Minister's Office
