Kristersson said on X that Poland and Sweden have “deeply convergent views on the challenges to European security” and are deepening political, defense and industrial cooperation. He said Warsaw’s choice also showed the strength of Sweden’s defense industry, calling Saab’s submarine program “world-leading”.
Swedish media reported that shares in defense group Saab rose about 3% on the Stockholm stock exchange after the announcement.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson said the Swedish submarines, designed specifically for Baltic Sea conditions, were the right choice for Poland and would “significantly improve the operational capabilities of the Polish Navy and bring benefits to the Polish economy”.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said the deal “creates a joint submarine operations system in the Baltic Sea and strengthens interoperability between the Swedish and Polish navies”. He said expanding cooperation in the Baltic was “more important than ever” amid what he described as the most serious security situation in Europe since the end of World War Two.
The Swedish government described ties with Poland as historically, politically and culturally strong, noting long-standing cooperation on Baltic Sea issues and recalling that Poland was among the first countries to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Poland’s Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday which country would supply three submarines for the Polish Navy. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said offers from six countries in the Orka program were thoroughly analyzed by an interministerial team, and the Swedish proposal was judged the best.
Sweden is offering A26 Blekinge-class submarines, which Kosiniak-Kamysz said are the vessels best suited for operations in the Baltic Sea.
(jh)
Source: PAP