On 16 November, Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist made a statement regarding the further possibility of Swedish land force involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. This comes as a potential continuation of the Canadian Armed Forces-led operation UNIFIER. Formed as a wider Multinational Joint Commission, a larger body composed of the US, UK, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, and Denmark, it aims to reform Ukraine’s military. So far this reform process has involved the training of 10,000 Ukrainian land force troops.
Sweden’s role and contribution to the Ukrainian crisis have escalated in rhetoric and further alliance promulgation, with the Swedish MOD discussing the formation of a European-led training mission alongside the Baltic states. The contextual background and this strategic shift in military presence and land force capabilities in Ukraine are rooted in the ministerial defence meeting between Minister Hultqvist and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Andrii Taran on 17 February 2021. Items on the agenda included bilateral cooperation in security governance as well as plans to sign a defence-related cooperative agreement for the next meeting in person.
This strategic pivot reflects Sweden’s desire to elevate strategic military cooperation with Ukraine. Speaking to Swedish Radio News, Hultqvist is quoted as saying, “Now all eyes are fixed on Poland and on what is happening at the border, which may mean that Ukraine will be somewhat in the shadows. The issue of Ukraine is always relevant, our solidarity must always be very clear. We consider it very important to highlight the EU’s ambitions to contribute to the security and sovereignty of Ukraine”.
The political rhetoric is held against the backdrop of increased Swedish armament sales to Ukraine and, in particular, soaring annual profits from industrial actors, such as Saab, who have recorded annual sales of USD 286 million in 2020 from USD 172 million in 2019. These sales include a range of radar systems and weapons such as the Carl-Gustaf rocket launcher. The Ukrainian crisis has catalysed a doctrinal shift in further cooperation with western member states.
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Liljeheden, Andreas, Training Mission, “Hultqvist prepared to let Swedish military train Ukrainian troops”. November 17th, 2021, Sverige Radio. https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/hultqvist-prepared-to-let-swedish-military-train-ukrainian-troops
The Local, “Ukraine conflict boosts Swedish arms sales”, The Local, February 10th, 2015, https://www.thelocal.se/20150210/boost-for-swedish-defence/ , Last accessed November 17th, 2021.
Trading Economics, (2021). ‘Weapons Sales in Sweden increased to 286 USD Million in 2020 from 172 USD Million in 2019’, https://tradingeconomics.com/sweden/weapons-sales, Last accessed November 17th, 2021.
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