Sweden, a new member of NATO, has proposed deploying up to eight fighter jets to Poland for NATO’s air defense operations. On Thursday, March 6, the country’s Foreign Minister, Maria Malmár Stenargård, confirmed the proposal of sending JAS Gripen fighter jets. The British news agency Reuters reported this.
Stenargård stated that, one day before Sweden’s one-year anniversary of joining NATO, the Swedish government plans to participate in NATO’s air defense operations and secure logistical operations in Poland to assist Ukraine.
In a press conference, she said, “We are proposing to send up to eight JAS Gripen fighter jets from Sweden, which will be deployed with the necessary personnel, command structure, and support units.”
She further mentioned that the government has proposed that Sweden also provide air and maritime surveillance and airlift capabilities for NATO.
Sweden will join NATO on March 7, 2024, a significant step taken after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.