Sweden seeking improved defense ties, appoints defense attache to PH

Sweden has appointed a defense attache at its embassy in Manila as a key liaison in advancing its strategic engagement in the region while seeking to bolster military cooperation with the Philippines.

Bangkok-based Lieutenant Colonel Anders Nikanorsson will serve as Sweden’s new non-resident defense attaché, with the Swedish government highlighting the move as a “significant step forward” in its defense ties with the Philippines.

“I am deeply honored and genuinely excited to take on this assignment. The Philippines holds a pivotal position in the Indo-Pacific, both geographically and strategically,” Nikanorsson said in a statement.

His appointment was announced after the Philippines decided to send a defense attache to Sweden.

“As a maritime nation committed to international law and regional stability, it is a natural partner for Sweden in promoting a rules-based global order and enhancing security cooperation,” Nikanorsson said.

Anna Ferry, the ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines, said Nikanorsson’s presence “ensures a direct and informed dialogue with our counterparts in the Philippines.”

“His extensive experience as a senior defense officer significantly strengthens our capacity to engage on critical security and defense issues,” Ferry said.

“This addition deepens our understanding of regional dynamics from both military and strategic perspectives.”

As part of its broader defense strategy, Sweden has intensified its engagement in the Indo-Pacific, recognizing the region’s geopolitical significance and its impact on global security and stability.

The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other hand, has sought to expand its alliances and upgrade its defense capabilities as it confronts an increasingly aggressive China in the resource-rich South China Sea, which has flared in recent years.

The years-long disputes also involve Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Sweden recently became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in March 2024, ending its national and international identity as a neutral and non-aligned state.

Sweden’s Defense Minister Pål Jonson met Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the Singapore Shangri-la Dialogue on May 31, where he called for “stronger partnerships” in the form of joint defense exercises, joint innovation, and industrial cooperation.

Sweden and the Philippines signed in 2023 an Acquisition of Defense Material agreement that allows cooperation on areas of logistics, technology research and development, defense industry development, and exchange of related information.

“We build trust, resilience, and deterrence. These connections make us all safer and make conflict less likely,” Jonson said.

In his visit to Manila in 2024, Jonson denounced the series of dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, saying such acts put human lives at risk and undermine regional peace and security.

China's vast territorial claims in the waters have sparked tensions and violent confrontations with smaller claimants, like the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Philippines largely won a landmark case against China's massive claim in the South China Sea before an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2016, but Beijing refused to participate in the arbitration process and recognize the ruling. –NB, GMA Integrated News