Samantha Job on NATO, the Baltic Sea and Sweden’s next frigates

Around the corner from the British Embassy, next to the English church, stands the British Residence. In the early 1900s, the residence also served as the country's embassy in Stockholm. It was perhaps considered fitting, therefore, that the neo-Gothic English church, originally built in the Norrmalm district of Stockholm, was dismantled and relocated to Diplomatstaden (the diplomatic quarter). Both the residence and the church have remained there ever since, and it is here that the United Kingdom's Ambassador Samantha Job receives us. 

It was in August 2024 that Samantha Job took up the role of British Ambassador. Prior to that, she worked at the Foreign Office in London with responsibility for defence and international security, where she worked on NATO, nuclear deterrence, and export matters. 

– In that respect, it felt quite natural to move from that role to becoming an ambassador, says Samantha Job as we settle into a seating area in one of the residence's rooms. 

Her appointment came just after Sweden joined NATO, a lengthy and, in some respects, complex process. Membership has not, however, brought any major changes to the relationship between Sweden and the United Kingdom, which she says has always been strong.

– We had close cooperation beforehand, for example through the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), and that cooperation has continued since Sweden and Finland became NATO members. It is of course positive that we can now engage in an even closer dialogue, exercise together, and increase our exchange of knowledge, says Samantha Job. 

The Ambassador also wishes to highlight the broader perspective and mentions the United Kingdom's Strategic Defence Review from 2025. Both the JEF and the High North are referenced repeatedly in the report, which she says underscores the importance of the expeditionary force and the region for European and British security. Not least given that the country recently assumed responsibility for Joint Force Command (JFC) Norfolk, to which Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were transferred in December 2025.

– It is clear that this part of Europe is enormously important to our national security. We have now taken command of the headquarters in Norfolk, which is responsible for the region, and we take that very seriously, says Samantha Job. 

Is the Baltic Sea also a central priority for the United Kingdom? 

– Both the High North and the Baltic Sea are central to us. The (GIUK) Gap between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom is particularly important. The Russian fleet can exit either via the High North or through the Baltic Sea, so we view these as two interconnected areas where we must be able to operate together with our closest allies, says Samantha Job. 

Throughout the spring, the Baltic Sea region has been widely discussed, not least due to the Russian shadow fleet. The Swedish Coast Guard (Kustbevakningen) has previously boarded vessels suspected of belonging to the shadow fleet. Samantha Job describes close cooperation between the countries in the region on the matter. 

– We are very much aware that one way of cutting off the financing of Russia's war is by acting against the shadow fleet. The United Kingdom has, among other things, imposed sanctions against a number of vessels, 544 according to the latest figures, and we are seeing clear economic consequences of that, she says, and continues: 

– We maintain a close dialogue with the Swedish Coast Guard about their experiences from these incidents. The dialogue concerns, in part, the legal basis, how the measures work in practice, and what we can learn from one another.  

In October 2023, Sweden and the United Kingdom signed a strategic partnership. With the agreement, the parties sought to continue strengthening cooperation in security and defence, with a focus on, among other things, counter-terrorism and the export of defence materiel. The partnership has since been deepened through further agreements in specific areas, such as a memorandum of understanding on research and innovation, as well as close cooperation on energy and civil nuclear power.

– What truly impresses me is that the partnership is still evolving. It is not merely a diplomatic document drawn up for the prime ministers and then placed on a shelf. On the contrary, we have an active process in which we follow up on what we are to do together, whether we have delivered on it, and what the next steps are, she says.  

Speaking of partnerships, there is a frigate tender on the table. What is the latest you have heard? 

– I had been hoping you would tell me, says Samantha Job with a laugh. 

– We are very proud of our joint bid. It builds on a long tradition of cooperation between the British and Swedish defence industries, and the design work is a natural further development of that cooperation. 

She describes the design and how the frigate is intended to be adapted to the conditions of the region, designed to be manoeuvrable in the waters and climate of the Baltic Sea, with both ice and narrow passages to contend with.  

– A Swedish naval officer would feel at home on board. If someone stepped aboard this vessel from a Visby-class corvette, they would quickly understand how everything works. It is larger, but at the same time a natural progression to the next level, says Samantha.

Sweden has previously received naval state visits from Spain and France, two countries that have also submitted bids to sell frigates to Sweden. Earlier this spring, NDS visited the French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h, at which time France's Ambassador to Sweden, Thierry Carlier, was also interviewed. NDS was also on board when the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle visited Malmö (southern Sweden) in February.

Would you like to see a British visit of a similar kind? 

– If you ask any ambassador whether they would like a naval vessel to visit, the answer is always yes. But the decision on the frigates is ultimately a decision for the Swedish government, it is not about ship visits. Our focus is on meeting Sweden's needs, not least through industrial cooperation, says Samantha Job. 

From your perspective, what are the most important factors when defence companies from our two countries are to cooperate?

– When I speak with companies, shared values are paramount. I was recently at an event with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in London, where it was noted that many Swedish companies regret not having established themselves in the United Kingdom sooner, says Samantha Job. 

– Both the United Kingdom and Sweden invest heavily in innovation and growth. The defence industry is an important part of that, and in both countries there is a culture of driving research forward and pushing boundaries. 

Finally, what is on the Ambassador's wish list for 2026?

– If we speak again in six months, I hope we will be able to say that the frigate project has taken a step forward. I would also like to see progress on cooperation regarding civil nuclear power. For us, both of these matters concern long-term commitments and partnerships that are meant to endure for decades, she says, adding in conclusion:

– As British Ambassador, it is of course natural that I see the United Kingdom as such a partner for Sweden. But I also hope that we can continue to deepen cooperation more broadly, not least through closer relations between the United Kingdom and the EU.