International defence cooperation

The Nordic defence ministers met on 11 May 2022 in Kirkenes, Norway and gave the following statement.

On 11–12 May, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist will travel to Kirkenes in Norway for a meeting on the regional security situation, held within the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO).

On 12–13 April, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist visited Latvia’s Minister of Defence Artis Pabriks and the Adazi military base. The focus of the visit was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the importance of Swedish-Latvian defence cooperation.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security situation. This was the main focus when Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist attended a meeting at the Lithuanian Embassy in Stockholm on 8 April with ambassadors from the Baltic and Nordic countries.

On 25 March, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and the other Nordic defence ministers observed the Cold Response 2022 exercise in Norway. Conducted primarily in northern Norway, the exercise involves approximately 30 000 participants from 27 countries, including approximately 1 500 Swedish enlisted personnel and officers.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist visited the Gotland Regiment (P 18) on 23 March, together with Estonia’s Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet. They held bilateral talks about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region and regional defence cooperation.

On 21 March, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist attended a meeting of EU defence ministers devoted to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In a joint session with the foreign affairs ministers, the EU Strategic Compass was approved.

The war in Ukraine prompted the NATO defence ministers to gather in Brussels on 16 March for an extraordinary meeting. A representative for the European External Action Service and the defence ministers from NATO partner countries Ukraine, Georgia, Finland and Sweden also took part in the meeting.

Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen and Sweden’s Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist met today 14 March 2022 in Helsinki and took part in a scenario-based exercise. The Ministers made the following joint statement:

Sweden is taking part in a joint exercise within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force defence cooperation, that started on Friday. Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist was present in Denmark for the start of the exercise, which is taking place against the backdrop of the rapidly worsening security situation in Europe.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rapidly worsening security situation in the neighbourhood, Sweden and Finland are ramping up their joint military activities. On 2 March, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist visited a joint preparedness exercise in the Baltic Sea.

The Nordic Ministers of Defence today discussed Russia's actions in Ukraine and gave the following statement.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in the meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on 17 February. During the meeting, Mr Hultqvist attended a special session on cooperation between the EU and NATO at which attendees also discussed the situation in and around Ukraine.

The Nordic Ministers of Defence met virtually on 21 January to discuss the deteriorating situation in and around Ukraine. The ministers monitor the security situation in Ukraine closely, and continue to consult with each other through the NORDEFCO Crisis Consultation Mechanism.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Brest, France on 12–13 January. The meeting was dominated by the serious security policy situation, with focus on the situation in and around Ukraine. In addition, the influence of state and non-state actors in areas of operation such as Mali was discussed, along with the continued work on the EU Strategic Compass. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell took part in the meeting. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix also took part via video link.

We, the Nordic Ministers of Defence, follow the recent developments in and around Ukraine with great concern. Recent Russian military activity, especially the exceptional military build-up along Ukraine’s borders, is a worrying development, which may have a destabilising effect on our shared security environment.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist has received Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, and the two ministers signed a new agreement on defence cooperation between the countries. They discussed a number of urgent issues, including the serious security situation at Ukraine’s border with Russia.

Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov will hold a joint press briefing in connection with Minster Reznikov’s visit to Sweden.

Regional security and development of bilateral defence cooperation were among the agenda items when UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace visited Sweden. Bilateral talks with Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took place in connection with the visit.

Swedish Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom Ben Wallace will hold a joint press briefing in connection with Secretary Wallace’s visit to Sweden on 9-10 December, which includes a visit to Norrland Dragoon Regiment in Arvidsjaur (K4) and bilateral meetings in Stockholm.