Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that his country's main message at the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara would be support for Ukraine.
Kristersson, at a joint press conference with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard in Stockholm, stated that the summit would take place amid global instability. He said that the Russia-Ukraine war continued with high intensity, but Russian troops had not made significant advances.
The Swedish Prime Minister, noting that global public opinion is questioning Russia's stance, said, "The most important question everyone is asking ahead of the Ankara summit is: What will Russia, which does not want negotiations but apparently cannot achieve victory either, do?"
Kristersson also touched on the situation in the Middle East, noting that the region had been dominated by uncertainty in the spring months, but partial stability had been achieved recently. He recalled that the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened to limited ship traffic and expressed that they expected steps towards lasting peace.
Three Main Agenda Items of the Summit
Kristersson said he shares the three priorities set by the NATO Secretary General: 'burden sharing,' 'strengthening the defense industrial base,' and 'long-term support for Ukraine.'
He explained that burden sharing meant overseeing the commitment to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, adopted at the last summit, and building a stronger European pillar within the Alliance. He said that the defense industry issue would be addressed at the Defense Industry Forum to be held within the scope of the summit.
Support for Ukraine a Foreign Policy Priority
The Swedish Prime Minister stressed that support for Ukraine is of vital importance for Stockholm. 'Support for Ukraine is Sweden's main foreign policy priority. This is a real investment in European security, and Sweden is playing a leading role in this regard. Our main message in Ankara will probably be this,' he said.
Kristersson described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's attendance at the dinner on the first day of the summit as 'a very important signal' and said that allies would also discuss the implementation of the decision to allocate 5 percent of GDP to defense, taken a year ago in The Hague. This target must be achieved by all member countries by 2030 at the latest.
Sweden's Defense Industry on Export Offensive
Kristersson announced that significant successes had been achieved in the defense industry in recent months. He disclosed that 16 new model Gripen fighter jets had been sold to Ukraine, three A26 submarines to Poland, and that negotiations had begun with Canada for six GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The Swedish Prime Minister stated that defense industry exports had increased by 70 percent during his government's tenure. 'As NATO restructures its defense, this process is increasingly being driven by Sweden. This is quite remarkable. This success is the result of a joint effort by both Swedish companies and the Swedish government. The defense industry is no longer seen as an unstable sector that struggles for financing in the markets; on the contrary, it is recognized as a vital resource for protecting democracy in our region. It is clear that Sweden, the country of engineers, now contributes to NATO far beyond its own strong defense,' he said.
Foreign Minister Emphasizes Ukraine
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that in addition to the leaders, foreign and defense ministers would also attend the summit in Ankara, which would provide a busy diplomatic schedule. She announced that on the margins of the summit, a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting would be held with the participation of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, as well as a meeting with partners of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
Stenergard stressed that Ukraine, which is resisting Russia, is a key partner for NATO. 'Ukraine contributes not only to its own security but also to our security. We all need to learn from the innovative capacity and combat experience that Ukraine generously shares,' she said.
