Registration is now closed. If you would like to attend the webinar, please email tamsin.fry@adsgroup.org.uk
Under the bill 'Total Defence 2021–2025', published in October 2020, the Swedish Government is proposing a substantial increase of capabilities in both military and civilian defence. Sweden will increase military spending by about 40% in the next five years and considerably increase the number of people conscripted into its armed forces as it aims to strengthen its defence capabilities amid growing tensions with Russia, the Government has stated. Back in September 2020, Stockholm protested to Moscow after two warships entered its territorial waters without permission, and it has repeatedly complained about Russian military planes flying too close to its own aircraft and violating Swedish airspace. Increased Russian activity in the Baltic Sea region has pushed Sweden into a hasty programme of rearmament, including buying Patriot missiles from the US.
The country, which is not a member of NATO but enjoys close ties with the alliance, ran down its military forces after the cold war to save money. “We have a situation where the Russian side is willing to use military means to achieve political goals,” the Defence Minister, Peter Hultqvist, informed reporters. “Based on that, we have a new geopolitical security situation to deal with.” He said the new proposals would mean an increase in the military budget of 27.5bn Swedish kronor ($3.10bn or £2.42bn) by 2025. The Government said the military budget would be increased between 2021 and 2025, and would fund an expansion of military personnel to about 90,000 from 60,000 people, including a new mechanised brigade with updated artillery. The navy will get an extra submarine, increasing the number to five, and the corvette fleet will be updated, while the army and air force will get upgraded weapons systems. In addition, the draft will be expanded to 8,000 a year by 2025, up from 4,000 in 2019.
This represents the largest increase in the level of ambition in Swedish defence capabilities in 70 years. The Swedish Embassy in London together with ADS Group are pleased to invite you to our webinar to find out what this means for UK industry and future bilateral collaboration between our two markets.
Proposed agenda:
14:00 Welcome and introduction – Caroline Donaghy, Director - Defence, ADS
14:05 Opening comments – Anna McMahon, Assistant Head - Europe, DIT DSE
14:15 The Swedish Defence Market – Colonel Per Jenvald, Defence Attache, Swedish Embassy, London
14:35 The role of the Swedish defence industry as a potential partner – Robert Limmergård, Secretary General, Swedish Security and Defense Industry Association
14:45 Open forum Q&A
15:00 Final remarks and close – Caroline Donaghy, Director - Defence, ADS
