An agreement on deeper defense co-operation will be signed during Boris Johnson’s visit to Sweden

Aftonbladet says it has received information from several sources. The information has not been officially confirmed.

Johnson is visiting both Finland and Sweden today.

According to Aftonbladet, the agreement concerns a period of uncertainty between Sweden’s possible application for NATO membership and the realization of membership.

Aftonbladet has previously reported that Britain has promised concrete support while NATO countries are considering a possible application for membership from Sweden.

According to the newspaper, politicians sitting in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Swedish Parliament have received information about “secret, bilateral co-operation with another country” in their recent meetings. According to Aftonbadet, it was not even allowed to bring a telephone to high-security meetings.

During his visit to Sweden, Johnson will meet with the Prime Minister Magdalena Anderssonin. According to a press release from the Swedish government, Johnson and Andersson will discuss the state of European security policy and bilateral relations and co-operation between Sweden and Britain.

In Finland, Johnson will meet with the president Sauli Niinistö. According to a press release from the President’s Office, Niinistö and Johnson will discuss the security situation in Ukraine and Europe.

Johnson’s visit was only reported yesterday. Short notice is not uncommon when announcing the British Prime Minister’s program and meetings, says a London-based journalist Auli Valpola on the radio in the first morning.

– It’s also about security. There is not much talk of Johnson’s movements and meetings in advance.

– And now when it comes to Russia’s neighboring country, which is at war and has become unpredictable, security was probably considered more carefully than usual, Valpola analyzes.

It can also contribute to the image that Johnson seeks to build for its own audience.

– Johsnon has wanted to give the impression that he is a key player on the Western front for Ukraine against Russia. It is now advantageous to show up where the big NATO decision is being made.

According to Valpola, the visit to the British media aroused interest, especially because Finland and Sweden are on the verge of their NATO decisions.

Valpola says that he does not remember the last time Finland would have received as much attention in the British media as it did now when considering NATO membership.

– Sweden has also been written about here, but Finland has been seen as the more important and determined party – and Sweden is following, Valpola sums up.

Also the President of Estonia Alar Karis arrives in Finland today to visit Niinistö.