Peter Hultqvist

Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist today visited Joint Protector 21 in Älvdalen. Sweden is hosting the exercise held within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence cooperation.

Common security challenges and how the cooperation within the European Intervention Initiative (EI2) can be developed even further were some of the agenda items when EI2’s thirteen member countries met in Stockholm. Sweden and Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist hosted this year’s annual meeting.

24 September 2021, Stockholm, Sweden

We live in uncertain times. The geopolitical challenges today are more acute and complex than in recent decades. Russia just concluded the military exercise Zapad, displaying its military capabilities with a substantial volume of forces, while highlighting in its National Security Strategy presented last July that “Russia is preparing for a long-term conflict with the West”.

Statement of Intent on Enhanced Operational Cooperation among the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway and the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Sweden (hereafter referred to as "the Participants").

A serious security crisis in the Nordic region would affect us all, and we need to be prepared and equipped to act together in peace, crisis and conflict. Coordination of national operational planning will improve our ability to act together if so decided.

Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and French Minister of Defence Florence Parly and ministers or delegations leaders from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy will hold a press briefing at Karlberg Castle, Stockholm, on Friday 24 September at 15.00.

The security policy situation in Europe and bilateral cooperation in the defence materiel area were some of the agenda items when Austrian Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner visited Sweden on 20 September. Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist received Ms Tanner at Karlberg Palace.

On 18–19 September, the annual NATO Days and the Czech Air Force Days will be held in Ostrava. For the second time, Sweden will assume the role of Special Partner Nation at NATO Days. Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist will deliver the opening address at the event and also hold bilateral meetings with the defence ministers from the Czech Republic and, Slovakia.

Today Peter Hultqvist, Minister for Defence of Sweden, and Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, signed a Joint Declaration on defence cooperation.

On 23 August, Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist participated in a panel discussion in Kyiv, Ukraine on the security situation in the Black Sea and the future of Crimea.

On 5 August, Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist met with British Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin in Stockholm. Current security policy issues and deepened Swedish-British defence research, capability and industrial collaboration were on the agenda.

Today in the Riksdag, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced the ministers who will serve in the Government. The change of government will take place at a Council of State at the Royal Palace presided over by His Majesty The King. The Council of State will begin at 14.15.

On 30 June–1 July, Sweden’s Minister for Defence met his colleagues from the other member states of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence cooperation. During the ministerial meeting in Helsinki, Finland, they officially signed the JEF Policy Direction document, which sets key principles for further cooperation.

On 29–30 June, the defence ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met in Tuusula just north of Helsinki, within the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). The deteriorated regional security situation and further enhanced cooperation was the focus of discussions during the first physical NORDEFCO ministerial meeting since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Finland assumed the Chairmanship of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) on 1 January. Finnish priorities include strengthening and improving Nordic cooperation on peace, crises and conflict, as well as continuing work to implement NORDEFCO’s Vision 2025.

Sweden’s security, competitiveness and prosperity rest largely on digital foundations. For the Government, it is important that the opportunities of digital transformation are harnessed while the risks are managed. On Wednesday 16 June, Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg and Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist visited the national cyber security centre to see how the new centre is taking shape.

On 7–18 June 2021, Denmark, Finland and Norway and Sweden, together with the United States, will host the recurring international air exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise 2021 (ACE 21). It will be the fifth year the exercise is held within the framework of Nordic cooperation. Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist will visit the exercise in Luleå on 15 June.

The defence ministers of the Northern Group, a security and defence policy forum, took part in a video conference on 9 June. The security situation in northern Europe was the main item on the agenda.