The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday said the country is eyeing more ties with Sweden to boost its Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP).

This was after the two nations convened the 3rd Philippines–Sweden Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation on Wednesday, which reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to “deepening bilateral defense cooperation and exploring practical areas of collaboration in support of regional peace, stability, and defense resilience.”

“The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in defense industry development, logistics, research and innovation, and technical capacity building, while highlighting the Philippines’ continuing defense modernization efforts and the advancement of its SRDP,” the DND said in a news release.

The SRDP aims to ensure adequate defense assets and hardware for the country through domestic production and manufacturing, and development of a national defense industry.

“The Joint Committee Meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Philippines and Sweden to sustaining dialogue, enhancing interoperability, and promoting mutually beneficial defense cooperation founded on mutual respect, shared interests, and adherence to international law,” the DND said.

Both sides recognized the value of sustained partnerships in enhancing defense capabilities and fostering resilient, responsive, and sustainable defense establishments, it said. (PNA)