Great, welcome. Welcome to this press briefing and welcome, Mark. It's really good to have you in Sweden again.
Good to have you here as well. We avoid the rain right now in this location, but we also seem to... well, perhaps. You never know. Impressive backdrop.
Yeah, impressive backdrop. So it's really my pleasure to welcome NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Sweden and to this facility for education and training for our civil defense here in Revinge, next to Revinge here where the military troops are trained. And today's NATO summit is also the first time that Sweden is hosting a NATO ministerial meeting. And we really do that with great pride.
Yesterday evening we had a working dinner on board a Swedish Coast Guard ship where we discussed big commitments of ours to counter the Russian shadow fleet. And as you know, we've done so quite significantly lately. And of course, we also discussed the broader security challenges we face right now as well as Sweden's ongoing integration into NATO.
My main message, and I do think you will agree when I say this to the Secretary General, is that Sweden, we take our responsibilities as a NATO ally very seriously, with a strong sense of urgency and solidarity. We are carrying out our largest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War. Sweden estimates reaching NATO's 5% commitment by 2030.
Today's field visit here is a way to showcase our total defense concept. A good example of Sweden's steadfast commitment to strengthen security and defense in northern Europe through resilience and preparedness. And as we have learned today, Sweden's defense is a broad collective system, not a state-only function, and not only the responsibility of the armed forces.
Civil defense is crucial to support military operations, to safeguard the most essential public services, and to protect the civilian population. Our civil defense includes the government, municipalities, businesses, NGOs, and most importantly, our citizens, of course. Swedish citizens are expected to take personal responsibility with preparedness at home as well, awareness of their role in crisis or war. It also includes a strong psychological defense.
And at the top of all this, I, as you know, Mark, have appointed a minister for civil defense. Yeah, I'm quite sure he is somewhere here. He's always present, actually. Working in the background. Exactly.
We have, as you heard, improved the quality of our bomb shelters and rescue services. We have learned a lot from Ukraine, which has suffered indiscriminate brutal Russian attacks affecting civilians, including hospitals and children in schools. The rescue services have played a vital role in safeguarding Ukrainian society. The lessons for us is clear: we need to increase the capacity of our rescue services, and that is exactly what we are doing and what we have seen here today. And this is only the starting point.
Our military and civilian conscripts, together with professionals and volunteers, they deliver credible military and civil defense every day. So, allow me here today just to say thank you for your service, for your dedication, for your hard work, and your strong will to defense. Thank you so much.
To meet the long-term security threats and challenges, we will continue to invest in our armed service. Sweden's defense industry is a perfect example of a high-tech powerhouse driven by innovation and increased production. With around 380 defense companies, we deliver defense capacity by air, land, and sea. We will mobilize the private sector for security of supply. We will involve the Swedish population through conscription, and we will continue to strengthen our cybersecurity. Because security of the Swedish people and of NATO allies is our primary priority. So, thank you so much for being here, and over to you, Mark.
Thanks. Thank you so much, Prime Minister, dear Ulf. Thank you for the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be with you in Sweden and to be with you here today, and to see what is happening and what you are doing. It's really impressive.
I saw firsthand what Sweden's total defense concept is all about. Military and civilian conscripts training together to provide search and rescue, emergency care, the transport of wounded civilians, drone detection, to name only a few elements. We also saw the close cooperation between public authorities, emergency services, the armed forces, and also the private sector. It was and it is very impressive. And this is what I believe resilience looks like. And that's exactly what we need in today's security environment.
Defense is not only about armed forces. It is also about keeping society functioning, protecting people, securing critical infrastructure, maintaining supplies. In short, this is about making sure that every part of society is prepared. And Sweden understands very well that security is a whole-of-society responsibility.
Dear Ulf, since joining our alliance only 2 years ago, Sweden has become stronger, and Sweden has made NATO stronger. With advanced military capabilities, a strong defense industry, world-class defense technology, and as we have seen today, deep experience with resilience and total defense. Sweden is the framework nation for NATO's forward land forces in Finland, and contributing to the forward land forces in Latvia. This further strengthens our eastern flank and our deterrence and defense posture in the Nordic region.
Sweden's defense industry is a high-tech powerhouse. And I welcome your plans to move quickly to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2030. I know you're doing this because it's what today's security environment demands. And I hope, of course, that even more allies follow this accelerated timeline.
When it comes to the threats to our society, we know there are many. I commend Sweden for the steps you are taking against Russia's shadow fleet. It was very impressive last night to hear the stories. Vessels that help Russia evade sanctions and finance its war of aggression against Ukraine. That matters for Sweden. It matters for the Baltic Sea region. And it matters for the security of all allies. That is exactly what NATO is for: the security of all allies.
And let there be no mistake. Our ability and our resolve to defend every ally are absolute. Were anyone to be so foolish as to attack, the response would be devastating.
Turning to Ukraine: since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Sweden has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. Your military assistance includes tanks, combat vehicles, air defense, advanced weapon systems, ammunition training, and airborne surveillance and control aircraft. You are supporting Ukraine's defense industry, including through the production of long-range drones and missiles, and you are providing direct investment in Ukraine's defense industrial base.
I want to thank you. I want to thank Sweden for its contributions to Ukraine, also to PURL, the Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List, ensuring rapid delivery of crucial US equipment and munitions to Ukraine. More support is coming through PURL, and I encourage all allies to keep contributing to this vital initiative. Because supporting Ukraine is not charity. It is an investment in our shared security.
Later today and tomorrow, NATO foreign ministers will meet in Helsingborg. And indeed, this is the first NATO foreign ministers meeting hosted by Sweden. There we will prepare the ground for the Ankara summit, including on defense investment, industrial production, capabilities, and continued support for Ukraine. In Ankara, we must show that we are making real progress. That we are delivering. That means producing more, strengthening our supply chains and stockpiles, producing faster, and ensuring that our militaries have what they need to deter and defend. And I know I can count on Sweden to continue leading by example and delivering on its commitments.
Prime Minister, dear Ulf, thank you for the excellent hospitality and for Sweden's steadfast contributions to NATO. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much. Thank you. Please. And with that, we'll go over to some questions in group. We can start with TT, second from the left here.
So, my name is Cornelia Michaelsen, and I represent Sweden's National News Agency, TT. You have previously referred to a no-surprise agreement with President Trump. But given the recent developments when we have seen what some would describe as surprises when it comes to US withdrawals, or at least as very sudden, how successful do you think that agreement has been? Or how can you guarantee that this will not continue? And secondly, we have also seen some open conflicts between allies. So, what key message do you hope that Marco Rubio will give during the meeting in Helsingborg?
Well, to start with the second part of the question: when it comes to allies sometimes having debates, we are democracies. We love to debate. But in the end, we always come together, the 32 of us. And you have seen this all over the history of NATO, 77 years almost. Always debates, always discussions, but in the end, we come together. That's a big difference with Russia or China, where one person decides what everybody should think. By the way, they think different things, but he thinks, the leader, that everybody agrees. We know it's not true. We need to debate, that makes us stronger.
To your first question, let's zoom out a little bit. Europe and Canada have ramped up their spending on defense. Last year, you've seen huge increases in defense spending. The whole of the alliance at 2%, committing in The Hague to reach the 5%, and Sweden now having decided to reach the core defense spending target already by 2030. This is huge and it is necessary because in the end, we cannot be over-reliant and keep on having the over-reliance on one ally. It's simply not healthy.
And this is exactly what we agreed with the United States: that they will stay involved, of course, with the nuclear umbrella, but also conventional, but that the Europeans will take more care of their own defense. Step by step, in a way where it will not, of course, lower the overall deterrence and defense of NATO. The rotational forces involved in the announcements do not have an impact on NATO's defense plans. The other discussion going on about the US contribution to the NATO force model, this is happening for a year. We have a process in place. This is normal business. And this is exactly what we wanted: Europeans doing more is stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, so that the US can pivot more towards, for example, towards Asia over time, step by step in a structured approach, and this is exactly what's happening.
We'll take the next question from the lady in red here.
I have two questions. At this very moment or within the last couple of hours, a drone has again entered Baltic airspace, I guess over Latvia this time. So, what can NATO do to deter Russia from redirecting these drones? Because it doesn't seem to be working. And at the same time, it's being reported that the JEF is working on creating a sort of military command structure that could operate outside of NATO if necessary. Do you look surprised? Read The Economist and others. So, I mean, I'm not optimistic on the answer I'll get from you, but if this is true, does this strengthen NATO because it then would be a European pillar, a decision-making pillar inside NATO, or is that a sign that the alliance is more fractured? Thank you.
Well, if I start with the second part of the question: no, no, obviously not. I mean, JEF, the Joint Expeditionary Force, not that well known to everybody, perhaps. I mean, that's a kind of a cooperation nowadays within NATO. We were part of the JEF also before we became full members of NATO. So, that's certainly not an alternative. It's a kind of a way of having rapid responses, you know, obviously useful when we had the Baltic Century after all these sudden and very strange damages on underwater cables, for example. So, absolutely important and perhaps increasingly important given the fact that we are so close to Russia. But obviously not as an alternative, but a part of NATO.
Yeah, to your first question, I mean, Ukrainian drones are there not because Ukraine wants to work with drones. They are there because of the full-scale Russian attack against Ukraine, Ukraine having to defend itself. And NATO is always prepared for every eventuality. What happened over the last couple of days again is what we trained and prepared for. And this is a calm, decisive, and proportionate response to any threat. And that's exactly what happened through the Baltic air policing mission from Lithuania when it comes to Latvia, when it comes to Lithuania. So, this is what people can be assured of: NATO is always there to defend every inch of NATO territory.
Well, you stop it by making sure that anyone, of course, when it comes to Ukrainian drones, again, they are not there because Ukraine wanted to send drones. They are there because of this war of aggression by the Russians. This is where this all started. And when a drone, whether it is from Ukraine or from Russia, is presenting a threat, then we are there to make sure that we do everything.
Take the woman in the blue shirt and then the man in the blue jacket here.
A quick follow-up on the drones. I saw the Polish defense minister today said that Ukraine must be more precise in using drones after we've seen this string of incidents. A comment to that. And then also for the Secretary General: Russia on Thursday delivered nuclear munitions to fuel facilities in Belarus and we are seeing exercises there. How does NATO assess this?
But when it comes to exercises, they happen all over the place. Of course, we monitor them closely.
Well, it's my firm belief that the Ukrainians are very... I mean, they certainly don't want their drones to end up on friendly territory for obvious reasons. Sometimes it's a matter of jamming, sometimes it's a matter of other disturbances, and obviously they do not want them to happen because it could create damage, it could create fear, of course.
But I think you should also realize that there is Russian willingness to give the impression that other countries are kind of doing things that are not legitimate, and that's why we should really not be open for the Russian narrative on this, but instead, of course, help the Ukrainians as much as we can to help them direct their attacks in the right directions, of course. There was this ridiculous claim by the Russians that Latvia was somehow supporting this. Totally ridiculous, and the Russians know this.
