Gdynia: Poland and Sweden have entered into a significant arms agreement, worth £4.2 billion ($4.8 billion), to bolster Poland's naval strength. This deal was signed at a ceremonial event held in the Polish seaport of Gdynia on the Baltic Sea.According to Deutsche Welle, the agreement involves Poland's State Treasury Armaments Agency purchasing three submarines from Saab, a Swedish aerospace and defense contractor. Saab has announced that the delivery of these submarines will commence in 2030, with the final vessel expected to be delivered by 2038. The contract was awarded to Saab amidst competition from companies based in France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain.Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, highlighted the importance of this defense collaboration with Sweden by sharing an image of himself with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on X, formerly known as Twitter. The image, taken during the signing ceremony, was accompanied by a message from Kristersson emphasizing the strengthened securi ty in the Baltic Sea and across NATO resulting from this collaboration.The submarines to be supplied by Saab are the A26, or Blekinge-class vessels, which come with a comprehensive package including weapons, training, and maintenance. Saab has also committed to establishing maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities in Poland, operated jointly with Polish companies to enhance local defense capabilities.Micael Johansson, CEO of Saab, stated that these submarines will significantly bolster the strategic partnership between NATO allies Sweden and Poland, enhancing security in the Baltic region. The A26-class submarines are noted for their advanced stealth capabilities, allowing them to operate undetected and perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks effectively.Currently, Poland's naval fleet includes only one aging Russian submarine. To address the interim period until the new submarines are delivered, Poland will utilize the Swedish submarine HMS Södermanland. This move comes as Euro pean NATO members seek to strengthen their defenses amid ongoing regional tensions and uncertainties surrounding U.S. security commitments.
- July 31, 2026
