Military defence

Increased security in Northern Europe and enhanced support to Ukraine were on the agenda when Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson participated in several meetings of defence ministers in Copenhagen. Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov also took part in all the meetings.

Yesterday, 21 November 2024, the Nordic Ministers of Defence met in Copenhagen to discuss how to further strengthen Nordic defence cooperation (NORDEFCO) and take stock of the progress made under the Danish Chairmanship in 2024.

On 21 November 2024, the Nordic defence ministers signed a joint Letter of Intent (LOI) on expanded cooperation to develop strategic corridors for military transport in the Nordic region. 

(New version) On 22 November, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson invites the media to a press conference with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov, following his visit to Stockholm. The press conference will take place at Karlberg Palace.

On 19 November 2024, Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Lithuania’s Minister of Defence Laurynas Kačiūnas signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on strengthened defence cooperation between Sweden and Lithuania.

On 20–21 November, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will take part in a meeting in Copenhagen with other defence ministers from the Nordic and Baltic countries.

On 19 November, Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson met with Lithuania’s Minister of Defence Laurynas Kačiūnas. During the meeting, a Letter of Intent (LOI) on strengthened defence cooperation between Sweden and Lithuania was signed.

On 19 November, the defence segment of the EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene. The meeting will focus on continued EU support to Ukraine and strengthening EU defence readiness and preparedness. Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will represent Sweden at the meeting.

On 9 November 2024, Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Brazil’s Minister of Defense José Múcio signed a letter of intent on deepened aerospace cooperation.

Brazil is planning to extend the contract on Jas 39 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden, while Sweden is ready to begin negotiations to purchase Embraer C-390 transport aircraft from Brazil. Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Brazil’s Minister of Defense José Múcio signed a letter of intent to this effect today, 9 November.

Today, 9 November, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson is in Natal for a meeting with Brazilian Minister of Defense José Múcio. In connection with the meeting, Mr Jonson will also visit the major operational air exercise Cruzex 2024.

Today, the EU decided to extend the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) Ukraine. The Mission strengthens Ukraine’s capability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and will now be extended by two years.

On 16 October 2024, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky signed a Letter of Intent (LOI). This LOI is a bilateral declaration on expanded defence cooperation between Sweden and Hungary.

On 28–29 October, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will visit Qatar for a bilateral meeting with Minister of Defence and State Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah in Doha. This visit will take place as follow-up to the visit of the Amir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, to Stockholm in September.

Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky sign Letter of Intent.

On 17–18 October, Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will meet with his colleagues from other NATO member countries in Brussels. Part of the meeting will also be attended for the first time by the defence ministers of Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand – NATO’s partners known as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4).

(New version) The Government has now presented a Total Defence Bill for the period 2025–2030. It includes substantial reinforcements of the total defence. Additional funding over SEK 170 billion will be allocated to the military defence and SEK 37.5 billion to the civil defence through 2030. These are historically large investments. Defence expenditures will therefore already reach 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2028.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday 16 October. Following the meeting, they will hold a joint press conference.

Swedish Defence University, Stockholm, 24 September 2024. Check against delivery.