Relationship dossier
Australia
Sweden
Relationship assessment
Australia and Sweden have a cooperative strategic partnership, including defence-industry ties.
Australia toward Sweden
+35The Australian government selected Saab’s combat management system for the Hunter-class frigate program, providing a concrete basis for defence-industry cooperation with Sweden. Australia and Sweden have also pursued broader cooperation through their strategic partnership.
Sweden toward Australia
+35Swedish company Saab supplied the combat management system selected by Australia for its Hunter-class frigates, creating a substantial defence-industry link. Sweden and Australia have also pursued broader cooperation through their strategic partnership.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship is supported by a strategic partnership and practical cooperation in defence procurement, alongside broader cooperation in trade, innovation and security. These ties indicate a constructive relationship, although the scale and durability of individual initiatives are not fully clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Australia and Sweden maintain a cooperative relationship, including a strategic partnership and practical defence-industry cooperation. Australia selected Saab’s combat management system for its Hunter-class frigates, while the two governments have pursued broader cooperation in areas including trade, innovation and security. The relationship appears constructive, though the scope and implementation of bilateral initiatives are not fully clear.
Key developments
Australia selected Saab’s combat management system for its Hunter-class frigate program.
Australia and Sweden established a strategic partnership covering areas including trade, innovation and security.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of cooperation under the Australia–Sweden strategic partnership are unclear.
- The extent of ongoing bilateral defence-industry cooperation beyond the Hunter-class frigate program is uncertain.