Jonas Olsson

1 month ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson

STOCKHOLM — Berlin’s military expenditures soared to $88.5 billion in 2024, positioning it as the world’s fourth-largest military spender and the highest in Central and Western Europe for the first time since Germany’s reunification in 1990. Germany is now spending 1.9 percent of the country’s GDP, approaching NATO’s current target of 2 percent.

2 months ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

Stockholm — A letter of intent has been signed between the Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Sweden for the purchase of Saab Gripen fighters, according to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, “with the latest technology, already deployed in Brazil, and is a Saab 39 Gripen brand,” Petro wrote in a translated statement on X.

2 months ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

STOCKHOLM — Sweden today unveiled its 19th, and largest ever, military aid package to date for Ukraine, totaling 16 billion Swedish kronor ($1.6 billion). The Swedish government announced on Monday that the bulk of this package will fund new orders from Swedish and European defense industries, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities amid the ongoing war. Defense Minister Pål Jonson painted a grim picture of the situation in Ukraine.

2 months ago | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

STOCKHOLM — Sweden is planning a jump in defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP, in line with what the nation’s prime minister expects will be a new NATO-wide spending target. Ulf Kristersson said a press briefing today that his “qualified guess” is that NATO would set the 3.5 percent target at the alliance’s summit in July. Sweden is already planning to hit that mark “within five years,” he said.

Jan 30, 2025 | breakingdefense.com | Jonas Olsson |Aaron Mehta

STOCKHOLM — Sweden today announced a 13.5 billion SEK ($1.23 billion) military aid package to Ukraine and Moldova, the 18th support package Stockholm has announced for Kyiv’s aid. Among the key components of this package is approximately $90 million for the production of long-range missiles and drones, which aims to bolster Ukraine’s offensive capabilities, according to the announcement by the Swedish government and its coalition party on Thursday.