Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17847827475740-02-06-3c5b230ab12befc19fd327df2b4a88f1847a7e0d4233f99f2754e7ff37b7be8c_227df5c344a.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PH, Sweden to discuss defense cooperation; Gripen fighter jet among possible areas of interest. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) - The Philippines and Sweden agreed on Thursday to deepen defense cooperation as both countries confront increasingly complex maritime security challenges, identifying maritime surveillance, cybersecurity, civil defense, space, defense innovation, and information sharing as key areas for collaboration.</p><p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said Manila and Stockholm, despite being in different regions, share a common interest in upholding international law, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based international order.</p><p>Jonson said his three-day visit to the Philippines, which included visits to the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), gave him a better understanding of the security dynamics in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“We had good and interesting discussions yesterday, both with your Coast Guard and with your Navy, to get a deeper understanding of the security dynamics in the Western Philippine Sea and what you are experiencing,” Joson told reporters in a press conference following the two countries’ defense ministerial meeting in Makati City.</p><p>He said Sweden also faces growing maritime security concerns in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.</p><p>Among these, he cited threats to critical underwater infrastructure and a more assertive Russian Baltic Fleet.</p><p>Jonson stressed that Sweden, as a free-trading and export-oriented nation, considers freedom of navigation and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) vital to its own peace, security, and prosperity.</p><div><br/></div><p>EXPANDED DEFENSE COOPERATION</p><p>According to Jonson, Manila and Stockholm will now focus on implementing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation signed during the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.</p><p>“I see a lot of potential that we could deepen cooperation when it comes to exchange of information on maritime issues, on maritime surveillance. I see there’s a great avenue on cybersecurity. We also discussed matters on space, which we both have emerging capabilities; hybrid threats, which I think is very important; and defense innovation technology, which is something Sweden is very engaged into,” Jonson said.</p><p>For his part, Teodoro announced that the Philippines is close to posting its first defense attaché and staff to Sweden.</p><p>“We are very close to posting our defense attaché and staff in Sweden. It is very important for us to do that, to continue to cascade our relationship,” Teodoro said.</p><p>The defense chief added that the two countries are working toward an agreement on the protection of classified and sensitive information.</p><p>“We also agreed to clad our engagement on a more secure basis, and I believe we should enter into some agreement for the protection of classified and secret information,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><p>GRIPEN OFFER STANDS</p><p>Asked about Sweden’s offer of Saab Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft, Jonson stressed that any acquisition would be a sovereign decision for the Philippine government.</p><p>“The decision is a sovereign decision that the Philippines should do based on its national interest. We, of course, stand by the Swedish offer, and we think it’s a good and attractive one. But once again, it is not the centerpiece of why I’m here,” he said. “When we engage into those matters, we’re looking for strategic partners.”</p><p>Teodoro, for his part, said the Department of National Defense (DND) is reviewing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Horizon 3 modernization program to ensure future acquisitions match evolving security requirements.</p><p>“On all platforms, we want the latest versions and fully supplied, and given the experiences of these platforms and the threats, what is the ideal force package for us. So, we are going to review this once again. We will be re-examining… We once again have to take a fresh look at it,” he said.</p><p>The defense chief added that the modernization of the military cannot be delayed despite the financial challenges involved.</p><p>“The modernization program is a must. The sooner we confront the pain necessary on financial terms, the faster our resilience becomes. Delay only means more cost and less resilience for our people,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><p>SUPPORT FOR UNCLOS AND THE 2016 ARBITRAL AWARD</p><p>Jonson reaffirmed Sweden’s support for freedom of navigation, UNCLOS, and the European Union’s position backing the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.</p><p>Asked about the recent confrontation in Ayungin Shoal, he reiterated Sweden’s commitment to international law.</p><p>“We stand firmly behind the EU’s position,” the Swedish defense minister said. “We are reiterating the importance of sea lanes of communication, freedom of navigation and UNCLOS.”</p><p>Teodoro thanked Sweden and the European Union for supporting the arbitral ruling, noting that all 27 EU member states had unanimously backed the award on its 10th anniversary.</p><p>“It was the first statement of support on such a level by the EU as a collective body of sovereign nations. I think the Filipinos should always remember this act of the EU and do not just put it aside,” Teodoro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/defense-chief-china-provocation-at-ayungin-part-of-a-script-1138">&#x27;Not random&#x27;: Defense chief says latest China &#x27;provocation&#x27; vs PH at Ayungin part of &#x27;script&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/marcos-jr-meets-rubio-in-malaca-ang-reaffirms-deep-ties-between-ph-us-1744">Marcos Jr. meets Rubio in Malacañang, reaffirms &#x27;deep ties&#x27; between PH, US</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/78CmjZGpWIs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines and Sweden agreed on Thursday to deepen defense cooperation as both countries confront maritime security challenges, identifying maritime surveillance, cybersecurity, civil defense, space, defense innovation, and information sharing as key areas for collaboration.</p>

The Philippines and Sweden agreed on Thursday to deepen defense cooperation as both countries confront maritime security challenges, identifying maritime surveillance, cybersecurity, civil defense, space, defense innovation, and information sharing as key areas for collaboration.

PH, Sweden deepen defense ties amid maritime security challenges

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PH, Sweden deepen defense ties amid maritime security challenges

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 23, 2026 01:13 PM PHT

|

Updated July 23, 2026 05:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson

Gripen Fighter Jet

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