By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – Swedish lawmakers on Friday expressed support for a greater defense cooperation between the Philippines and Sweden, suggesting an expansion of engagement to “building security” and “defending freedom of navigation.”
Seven members of the Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs are in the Philippines for an official visit from March 6 to 8.
In a media roundtable in Makati City, the delegation recognized that the Philippines and Sweden, as coastal and maritime nations, share distinct similarities, especially in causes to intensify their push for a rules-based order.
“We have sea, in our area the Baltic Sea where we have a big neighbor that do a lot of provocations, and this is the same here in the South China Sea towards the Philippines,” said Member of the Swedish Parliament Jacob Risberg.
Within the country’s maritime zones in the South China Sea, Filipino vessels and aircraft have repeatedly faced varying degrees of harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard, as well as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy — the most recent of which was when a PLA Navy chopper flew dangerously close to a Philippine airplane over the Scarborough Shoal, a feature located less than 200 nautical miles from Zambales.
As such, Risberg said, championing adherence to the rule of law is evidently vital to both Manila and Stockholm.
“And this is something we want to continue to work together with,” he said.
Joar Forsell MP, meanwhile, conveyed his support for possible collaboration on maritime security, especially on defending the freedom of navigation at sea.
“We can also be a partner in defending the freedom of navigation. We can also be a partner in building security and make sure that you have the right equipment to defend yourself,” he said.
This renewal of support follows the signing of a deal that will facilitate the purchase of military supplies and equipment between Sweden and the Philippines.
The logistics cooperation sealed last year is part of the commitment of the two countries under their 2023 Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in the Acquisition of Defense Materiel.
In a statement, the Swedish Embassy in Manila described the delegation’s visit as a reflection of Sweden’s recognition of the Philippines’ “strategic importance” for global and regional security.
With Risberg and Forsell were the head of the delegation and chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Aron Emilsson MP, Linnea Wickman MP, Margareta Cederfelt MP, Kerstin Lundgrenn MP, and Magnus Berntsson MP.
During their visit, the Swedish parliamentarians met with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other members of the House of Representatives, the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Commission on Human Rights, and the Asian Development Bank.
The Swedish parliament or the Riksdag holds power to decide over taxation and state expenditure, and adopts positions on foreign policy.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is responsible for the decisions in Riksdag concerning external relations and agreements with states and international organizations, international development cooperation, and foreign trade, among others. (PNA)
