Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
Minister of Defence of Sweden Dr Pal Jonson praised Qatar’s principled stance on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its invaluable assistance during the Afghanistan evacuation.
Talking to Qatar Tribune during his visit to the 15th edition of Milipol, he said he had very productive discussions with his Qatari counterpart and felt honoured to visit Qatar.
“I was impressed during my visit to the Air Force Academy -- the simulators, the international student body, and meeting both male and female pilots -- gave me a deeper understanding of how we can further develop our cooperation,” he said.
Dr Jonson pointed out that a few weeks ago, the His Highness the Amir visited Stockholm, where both the countries signed several letters of intent aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation, including in the field of defence.
He added, “It is meaningful for us that Qatar is a partner to NATO, while we are an ally, and I believe both our countries, as smaller nations in complex regions, share common interests.
“As for potential joint ventures or investments between our countries, I believe we are open to these possibilities if there is interest from the Qatari side. Sweden has a vibrant tech sector and, like Qatar, we are investing heavily in our own security. In fact, we are doubling our defence budget over the next four years with a clear focus on peaceful stability.”
