Poland and Sweden strengthen defence cooperation in the Baltic Sea

On 12 March 2026, at the Naval Port in Gdynia, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. The meeting took place during a visit by a Swedish Navy submarine, whose entry into the port was described as a symbolic gesture highlighting the growing allied cooperation between the two countries.

– The new security architecture in the Baltic Sea is based on the Polish-Swedish alliance: building joint capabilities, joint procurement, cooperation and training. We have a great future ahead with Sweden. We will develop all these capabilities and skills. We will jointly invest in the defence industry and build a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The Polish defence minister also pointed to the symbolic significance of the meeting, which coincided with the anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO.

– The entry of a Swedish Navy submarine into the port of Gdynia has symbolic meaning. It reflects allied capabilities, cooperation and responsibility for one another. It is also a symbol of the agreement we concluded at the end of last year. We are meeting on a symbolic day as well. Twenty-seven years ago Poland joined the North Atlantic Alliance – NATO. Sweden is the country that most recently joined the Alliance and changed NATO’s strategic position. The Baltic Sea has become NATO’s internal sea – the minister stressed.

The talks also covered the future command structure responsible for security in the Baltic Sea region. Both Poland and Sweden are expected to take rotational leadership roles in the command responsible for the Baltic.

– We are also preparing to take command of the Baltic. For now, Germany holds the command for four years, followed by Poland and then Sweden. The Baltic Sea is not only a transport and trade route, but also one of NATO’s most sensitive areas in terms of threats from the Russian Federation – Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz added.

Another key issue discussed during the meeting was the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, particularly in the context of hybrid threats and increased Russian activity in the region.

– We live in difficult and dangerous times. Russia is testing our unity and our determination. We see this also in your region, where Russian drones violate airspace and threaten security. Just two weeks ago we observed Russian drone activity in the region. Russia is testing us, but we remain united and that produces results. That is why it is so important that we continue to modernise our armed forces and strengthen NATO so that the Alliance remains capable of defending and protecting every part of its territory – said Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson.

The meeting at the Naval Port in Gdynia was held in connection with the official state visit of the King and Queen of Sweden to Poland and aimed at strengthening the Polish-Swedish partnership in defence and security within the framework of the Baltic Sea Security Pact.