Sweden does not rule out the possibility of an attack on its country by Russia and is preparing for it. This is according to a report by a special committee of the Swedish parliament, which was presented today, Monday. Its title literally translates as “Time for seriousness”. Sources say the current foreign policy situation is a direct reference to the period 1939-1945, when Sweden was under as much serious a threat to its security as it is today. The committee also insists, that Sweden’s defences must be focused and strengthened as never before.
The committee’s report states, that “Russia’s aggressive actions have led to a significant deterioration in the security situation. Moscow has further lowered its threshold for the military use of force and demonstrates a high risk appetite”.
The Swedish ad hoc all-party committee includes security experts who are concerned, that the war in Ukraine could escalate into attacks on other countries or even the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction.
“Thus, Sweden needs to develop its security policy and adapt its defence according to the scale of the threat posed by Russia over the long term,” the report said.
Swedish military experts and politicians also insist, that the country’s defence policy must address the long-term threat Russia poses to European and global security. “An armed attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out,” the report said.
The report outlines Sweden’s new defence doctrine, which is based on NATO membership, unlike the previous document, which was based on the state’s cooperation with its northern neighbours and EU countries.
Sweden applied to join NATO last year after Russia invaded Ukraine. Of all NATO members, only Turkey and Hungary have so far prevented Sweden from joining the military alliance.
Joining NATO would undo Sweden’s longstanding formal neutrality, although it has been training with NATO forces for years. Stockholm’s eastern neighbour Finland, which borders Russia, was admitted to NATO in April after applying with Sweden following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
Like most Western countries, Sweden cut its defence spending three decades ago after the end of the Cold War, but has increased it again in recent years and is due to reach NATO requirements in 2026, representing 2 per cent of the country’s GDP.
North Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently reiterated, that Sweden had met all requirements for NATO membership and expressed hope that this would happen before the Vilnius summit in July.
At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stresses, that Ankara will not support Sweden joining NATO anytime soon.
And last week, Sweden’s military intelligence chief said Russia was actively preventing his country from integrating into NATO. In this sense, Moscow acts both directly and through its agents of influence. Russia has previously made statements, that Sweden would “become a legitimate target” of Russian aggression if the country joined NATO. Such statements then sparked outrage in Stockholm and led to a diplomatic scandal.
