Sweden, Nato’s newest member, has expressed its intention of contributing up to eight Jas Gripen fighter jets to the alliance’s air policing efforts in Poland.
The announcement came a day before the one-year anniversary of Sweden’s Nato membership.
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that the Swedish government aims to support Nato air policing and protect logistics operations for assistance to Ukraine in Poland.
“We propose that Sweden contribute a maximum of eight JAS Gripen with associated personnel, including combat command and support units,” Reuters quoted Stenergard as saying at a press conference.
“In addition, the government proposes that Sweden contribute air and maritime surveillance capabilities and airborne transport capabilities,” she added.
This would mark the first occasion that Sweden provides fighter jets for Nato operations based in a country other than its own.
Sweden became a Nato member on March 7, 2024, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
With inputs from agencies