The new agreement on enhanced defense cooperation between Sweden and the USA has been signed and gives the USA the military right and opportunity to use a total of 17 Swedish bases, facilities or military areas.
– It is a historic day for the defense cooperation between Sweden and the USA. We have already had close and good cooperation with the USA. With this, it will be even stronger, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) to TT by phone from Washington.
The agreement was signed by Jonson and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, USA, on Tuesday evening.
An important purpose of the agreement is that the US should be able to quickly come to Sweden’s aid in the event of a crisis.
– It will create better conditions for Sweden to be able to receive support from the USA in the event of a war or crisis, says Pål Jonson.
– And it will also be good for Nordic defense cooperation, says Pål Jonson.
He refers to the fact that Norway already has such an agreement and that Denmark and Finland, like Sweden, are on the way to establishing such agreements.
To be valid, the agreement must be approved by the Riksdag. The government will submit a bill to the Riksdag with the agreement, and Pål Jonson estimates that the agreement should be able to come into force within a year.