UK signs mutual security pact with Sweden

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday signed a mutual security assurance with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, and will sign a similar agreement later the same day with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.

Ahead of his trip to Sweden, Johnson said: "We are steadfast and unequivocal in our support to both Sweden and Finland and the signing of these security declarations is a symbol of the everlasting assurance between our nations.

"These are not a short-term stop gap, but a long-term commitment to bolster military ties and global stability, and fortify Europe’s defences for generations to come."

The declarations will see a change in defense and security cooperation between the UK and Sweden and Finland by intensifying intelligence sharing, accelerating joint military training, exercising and deployments, and bolstering security across all three countries and northern Europe, according to a Downing Street statement.

They will also allow increased cooperation between British and Swedish and Finnish armed forces in all areas, including cyberspace.

At a news conference in Sweden, Johnson said: "What we're saying and doing now is in some ways no more than a statement of the obvious, that two liberal democracies faced with an attack would want to come to each other's support.”

"Whether it's in the event of a disaster or a military attack, what we're saying today is upon request from the other party we would come to the other party's assistance,” he continued.

"It's vital to state that now in the grim circumstances in which we find ourselves with the Russian attack in Ukraine."

Johnson added: "The many carcasses of Russian tanks that litter streets in Ukraine thanks to Swedish-developed and British-built NLAWs certainly speak to how effective that cooperation can be."

Both Sweden and Finland are considering whether or not to join NATO after Russia launched a war on Ukraine in late February.

They are expected to make decisions later this month.