Bilateral defence cooperation

Cooperation with strategic Allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom and the countries in the Baltic Sea region is of particular importance to Sweden’s security. The cooperation with Finland is Sweden’s farthest-reaching defence cooperation.

Finland

Sweden and Finland have similar security policy perspectives and cooperate closely on defence. The purpose of this cooperation is to enhance both countries’ defence capabilities, enable joint operations and promote common defence interests to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea region.

Defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland

The United States

Cooperation with the United States is of great importance to Sweden. Both countries have a shared interest in improving the capability to act together in a crisis situation. On 15 August 2024, the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Sweden and the United States entered into force. Sweden and the United States signed a statement of intent on enhanced cooperation between Swedish and US special forces. Sweden also entered into partnership with the state of New York.

Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States
Enhanced cooperation between Swedish and US special forces
Sweden enters into partnership with the state of New York

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Sweden’s defence and security policy relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are well-established. In light of the deteriorating security situation in the Baltic Sea region, a military exercise exchange and a close defence and security policy dialogue are being maintained. Swedish personnel work at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn and, through the Psychological Defence Agency, at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Latvia.

France

Defence cooperation between Sweden and France is well-established. In 2021, Sweden signed a statement of intent concerning intensified defence cooperation with a focus on international initiatives, military exercises and defence materiel.

United Kingdom

Sweden’s cooperation with the UK is of particular importance to security in the Baltic Sea region. In 2019, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement regarding the development of future fighter pilot aircraft. In 2022, Sweden and the UK signed a bilateral declaration of solidarity to support each other during crisis and conflict. Other areas of close cooperation include exercise and training, and research and development.

Germany

Germany and Sweden have a long tradition of cooperation. In 2024, Sweden’s and Germany’s defence ministers signed an updated declaration of intent to further deepen and increase cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces and other defence agencies. Germany and Sweden had previously signed a joint letter of intent in 2017.

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Multilateral defence cooperation

International agreements on defence cooperation

Every year, Sweden concludes a large number of international agreements with other states and international organisations. These agreements are known by several different names. A letter of intent (LOI) and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) are two common types of defence agreement.

As the basis for international defence cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, a letter of intent (LOI) is signed by the countries entering into a cooperation. An LOI establishes the basic features of the cooperation that the parties wish to conclude.

Following the signing of an LOI, it is common for the countries entering into a cooperation to also sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU). An MOU usually regulates in more detail the cooperation that the parties wish to conclude.