Philippines, Sweden to Discuss Defense Cooperation, Fighter Jet Acquisition

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is expected to meet with his Swedish counterpart, Defense Minister Pål Jonson, on Thursday, July 23, in the Philippines. Teodoro stated that defense cooperation and the potential procurement of Swedish fighter jets are on the agenda. "Well, in general, naturally, regarding our defense cooperation—I know, and the public knows—one of the things we are eyeing, if we have the funds, is the Gripen," he told reporters. The JAS 39 Gripen, manufactured by Swedish aerospace company Saab, is a lightweight, single-engine supersonic multirole fighter that Sweden has proposed to the Philippine Air Force. When asked if Manila and Stockholm would discuss a possible Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the two countries, Teodoro responded, "I haven't gotten any inkling from them yet." Teodoro and Jonson last met on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2025. In 2024, Teodoro welcomed Jonson to the Philippines, marking the first visit of a Swedish Defense Minister to Manila. Source: GMA News Philippines