Daven Tamayo

Sweden on military access deal with PH: ‘We are taking it step by step’

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Sweden is in a “step by step” process of assessing if it would ink a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines, to allow militaries of both countries to have access in each other’s bases, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday.While Sweden is looking at the Philippines as a “core” partner as the Nordic country ramps up its defense spending in the next 4 years, the two nations have yet to commit to elevate their defense ties, Jonson told ABS-CBN News hours after his meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.“That was also one of the things that we discussed. We’re open for all avenues for deepening the cooperation with the Philippines based on their needs and what we can provide to them as well,” he said.“We haven’t made any specific dates or commitments… but there is a willingness to deepen the cooperation and to have an observer role as necessary and then we will take it step by step from there,” he said.The SOVFA has been an enabling mechanism for the Philippines and its close partners — like Japan and Australia — to allow their troops to enter into each other’s bases for training, technical exchanges and other operations.Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, the Philippines has been more active in engaging with other militaries as Manila pushes back against Beijing’s continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea.Stockholm held an observer status in this year’s Balikatan Exercises, but it has yet to decide if it would join the next iteration of the US and the Philippines’ annual joint military drills, Jonson said.“We are an observer this year, we are following developments and we are beefing up our cooperation, and we will take it step by step,” he said.“I think that most we can bring to the table is niche technologies on defense innovation.  We have a defense industrial base… We are the first Nordic country of 10 million with the ability to produce submarines, fighter aircrafts,” he said.Sweden has been eyeing a tighter Air Force partnership with the Philippines should Manila decide to procure its Gripen fighter jet systems, Jonson said.The Gripen system is a Swedish-designed and produced multi-role fighter system that is now being used in Thailand, Colombia, Brazil and Ukraine, among others.“You can use it in many places in your country so that means your long-range strike capabilities, it is very difficult to take out the Gripen system,” the Defense minister said.“The other one is the unique lifecycle cost. It&#x27;s easy to maintain, so it is easy to operate,” he said, adding that “it has connectivity over 5G and 6G which makes it rather unique as a platform.”“The Gripen System has a low lifecycle cost because it is used to operating with a limited purse… so it is a cost efficient solution,” Jonson said.“That’s how normally we produce those designs in the aerial domain.”But the Swedish minister underscores that it is “not looking for clients” for its fighter jets.“We are looking for partnerships. That’s a commitment on both sides. That also means the willingness to invest into the upgrading of the system,” he said.“We are generous with technology transfers but we of course expect that partner to upgrade it,” he said.After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sweden and other European countries have bolstered their defense spending and policies to keep the Eurasian giant away from its borders.Sweden has also placed more emphasis on its Indo-Pacific strategy as the Nordic trading country values “freedom of navigation.”“We have tripled the defense budget in 7 years. That’s a major significant military build up and we did that due of the deteriorating security bar because of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. That completely revamped our security policy doctrine,” the Minister said.“There is an interconnectedness in what is happening in the Indo-Pacific area and what is happening in the Euro-Atlantic area so we need to engage,” he said, noting that the connection between the two regions “is becoming much more clear because China enables Russia’s war in Ukraine, predominantly.”Teodoro has agreed to visit Sweden in the near future, Jonson said.“Me and Sec. Teodoro talked about the possibility of sharing secret information, you need those kinds of technical arrangements,” he said.“Right now it is good for us to share information as a first step and having an increased interaction on government agency levels as well,” he said.“I know my Prime Minister very much appreciates your head of state and we are always eager to engage to deepen our cooperation with the Philippine government and the Filipino people.”

Sweden is in a “step by step” process of assessing if it would ink a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines, to allow militaries of both countries to have access in each other’s bases, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday.

Sweden is in a “step by step” process of assessing if it would ink a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with the Philippines, to allow militaries of both countries to have access in each other’s bases, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday.