Saab urges the Nordic neighboring countries to use its scouting plan to monitor the Nordic countries.
The Swedish defense company wants to take advantage of Europe trying to reduce its dependence on the United States, reports the Financial Times.
-Should we have a common ability for 24-hour monitoring in the Nordic countries? It is a natural step in NATO cooperation, says Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson.
US President Donald Trump has put pressure on Europe to take responsibility for his own security. At the same time, EU member states have agreed on an renovation plan plan of SEK 9,000 billion.
Financial Times reports that more and more people are trying to take advantage of Trump’s wavering commitment to Europe and that Saab is now urging the Nordic neighboring countries to use the company’s investigative and management aircraft to strengthen the monitoring of the Nordic countries and adjacent areas.
Monitor Svalbard and Greenland
Sweden currently has three globalye plans, but has an option to buy a fourth. According to Saab, four planes could cover the monitoring of larger parts of the Nordic countries, including Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland.
– How do we protect the Baltic Sea? How do we look at the Arctic? Should we have a common ability for 24-hour monitoring in the Nordic countries? It is a natural step in NATO cooperation, says Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson to the Financial Times.
The four largest countries in the Nordic countries already have a collaboration on fighter aircraft. Sweden contributes with Gripenplan, while Denmark, Finland and Norway hold American F-35.
Pål Jonson positive
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) welcomes an extended monitoring cooperation from the air.
-Nordic-Baltic cooperation is flourishing like never before. We will all sink or swim together, he tells FT.
Saab – which is the eighth largest defense company in Europe – has a good opportunity to take advantage of the growing distrust towards the United States, believes Mikael Grev, former combat pilot and now the CEO of the security company Avioniq.
– Few countries will sign new contracts with the US as a more varied supplier base is needed. It’s stupid to put all the eggs in a basket, he tells FT.
The Saab share has rushed by 70 percent in the last month after Europe promised massive investments in the defense.