Pål Jonson

On Tuesday 22 April, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted a bilateral meeting with Lithuania’s Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas at Sager House. The meeting was followed by a joint press conference at Rosenbad.

The Government has decided to contribute staff officers from the Swedish Armed Forces to Operation Highmast, a British-led multinational Carrier Strike Group deployment that will operate in the Indo-Pacific region to uphold regional security.

Sweden is investing billions in the procurement of four new tactical transport aircraft. Together with the Netherlands and Austria, Sweden is purchasing C-390 aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. As Sweden is joining an existing contract, delivery times will be shortened.

The Swedish Government has presented its largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK 16 billion. Ukraine has requested capabilities related to air defence, artillery, satellite communication, and naval capabilities. Together with the support package announced earlier this year, Swedish support to Ukraine amounts to approximately SEK 29.5 billion in 2025. Sweden’s military support since 2022 thus totals about SEK 80 billion.

On 1–3 April, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will visit Poland. On 1 April, Mr Jonson will participate in a formal ceremony for the Swedish contribution to Air Policing. On 2 April, Mr Jonson will take part in a high-level conference on the White Paper on the future of European defence, and on 2–3 April, Mr Jonson will represent Sweden at the informal meeting of EU defence ministers.

The Government has tasked the Swedish Armed Forces with making disbursements to the capability coalitions in the demining and drone areas within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) framework. This SEK 80 million in support is part of the 18th military support package to Ukraine.

On Wednesday 26 March, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will travel to Paris for bilateral talks with France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.

On Tuesday 25 March, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will travel to London for bilateral talks with the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.

The Government has authorised the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to procure 18 Archer artillery units for donation to Ukraine. FMV will also procure five Arthur counter battery fire radar units for Ukraine. Sweden will also support Ukraine´s industrial base through the Danish initiative. The Government also intends for Sweden to participate in the artillery coalition of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). The total value of the artillery package is approximately SEK 3 billion and is part of Sweden’s 18th military support package to Ukraine.

The Government has submitted a bill to the Riksdag regarding Sweden’s participation in an air defence operation to protect and maintain the security of military and civil support to Ukraine. Sweden will also contribute to enhanced Air Policing, NATO’s strengthened airspace surveillance, in Poland in mid-2025.

The Government intends shortly to authorise the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to procure RBS 70 and Tridon Mk2 air defence systems for donation to Ukraine. In cooperation with other international partners, Sweden will also fund procurement of additional air defence systems for donation to Ukraine. The total value of donations is SEK 1.2 billion and is a part of Sweden’s 18th military support package to Ukraine.

Defence and security are becoming increasingly important in Swedish space policy. Sweden will therefore pursue a cohesive and knowledge-based space policy that contributes to the development of our crisis preparedness and total defence. With this strategy, we are strengthening the defence and security dimension of space policy to make Sweden better equipped to face challenges in space and more capable of utilising space for defence and security.

On 13 February, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will attend a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. The day before, he will take part in a meeting with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), at which support for Ukraine will be discussed.

On 4 February Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin received the Republic of Moldova’s Minister of Defence Anatolie Nosatîi at Karlberg Palace.

On Tuesday 4 February, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin will receive Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, Anatolie Nosatîi at Karlberg Castle.

The Swedish Government is presenting its largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at SEK 13.5 billion. This package will also strengthen Ukraine’s long-range capability. Sweden aims to donate about 1 billion SEK towards making Ukraine able to produce long-distance missiles and drones. It also includes a doubling of the previous 16 donated Combat Boat 90s (CB 90) and anti-tank weapons, as well as investments to support Ukraine’s defence industry.

The Government is proposing to donate m/86 (AT4) anti-tank weapons to Moldova within the framework of the additional amending budget that contains the 18th military support package to Ukraine.

On Thursday 30 January, the Nordic defence ministers will meet in Helsinki within the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), with Minister for Defence Pål Jonson attending from Sweden.

Monday 20 January, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson invites media to a press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz of Poland at Berga Naval Base south of Stockholm.

Speech by Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, delivered at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 13 January 2025. Check against delivery.