Sweden wants to move from direct transfer to arms production in Ukraine

Defense Express information and consulting company writes about this.

During a press conference, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said that his government wants to change its policy of direct military assistance to Ukraine. Namely, instead of direct supplies of equipment and weapons, it wants to organize production on Ukrainian territory.

This should be facilitated, in particular, by the Swedish government's decision that the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) should start operating in Ukraine in the fall of 2024, the Polish portal Defence24 writes in its publication.

In response to journalists' questions, the Swedish Defense Minister emphasized that in the case of the launch of FMV in Ukraine, it is about the presence of civilian personnel whose work will fully comply with international law.

Defense Express notes that this should act as a kind of “fuse” for possible attempts by the Kremlin to intimidate official Stockholm, which are quite logical to expect amid Sweden's intentions to produce weapons in Ukraine.

In turn, as Pål Jonson also emphasized, the organization of defense production at facilities in Ukraine will help strengthen support for the Ukrainian army without reducing the operational capabilities of Sweden itself, which has already transferred 16 packages of military aid and has already depleted its own arsenals.

Interestingly, Swedish Defense Minister Jonson announced the decision to launch weapons production in Ukraine amid another important foreign policy event — the entry into force of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the United States and Sweden.

This agreement provides, among other things, for the US military to have access to 17 bases, airfields, and seaports in Sweden, and allows for the storage of US Army equipment and weapons on Swedish territory.

Defense Express adds that the political decision of Sweden to launch its defense production in Ukraine is already important. The story can be recalled here, in particular, of how the State Department hinted at the conditions for US defense companies to operate in Ukraine, and there were a number of requirements.

To keep in mind of the scale of the equipment and weapons transfer from Stockholm, Defense Express reminds about Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers, which were all given by Sweden to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces.