Sweden’s Defence Boost: Commission Lays Out Plans for Robust Spending Increase

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Defence Commission proposed a major hike in Sweden’s military budget. The plans would raise Sweden’s defence spending to 2.61 percent of GDP. Funding remains open.

Increase in conscription, missiles, surface combat vessels, expanded air defense capability, new territorial units… These and a lot more was included in Sweden’s Defence Commission Report Strengthened Defense Capability, Sweden as an Ally, which was submitted to Swedish Minister of Defense Pål Jonson and the Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin on Friday, April 26th.

The commission agrees with Sweden’s Armed Forces’ proposals that involve a shift in focus towards strengthening the war organization’s capability and availability. It emphasizes an increased focus on air defense through NATO’s integrated air and missile defense (IAMD), increased capability to operate and defend against unmanned vehicles, increased capability for interoperability, and integration into NATO’s command systems at all levels.

The report underscores the need to develop logistics and Sweden’s ability to serve as a base and marshaling area for allied units and increased capability to operate combat forces outside Sweden’s borders. Part of the overall consideration is also to strengthen the navy with, among other things, four new surface combat vessels.

Signed by Eight Parties

If implemented, these plans would raise Sweden’s defense spending to 2.61 percent of the gross domestic product, well above NATO’s current requirement for member countries, 2 percent. An additional 53 billion SEK, or 4.5 billion euros, would be invested by 2030. This would be followed by an additional increase of 15 billion SEK, or 1.3 billion euros, in civil defense spending.

Hans Wallmark of the ruling Moderates, chairman of the Defense Commission, emphasized at press conference that all eight parliamentary parties have signed the report. “The unity that exists is a strength in times of great tensions and attacks. There are political areas that are protected,” he said, according to Aftonbladet.

Funding and conscripts in NATO missions

However, how everything will be financed remains an unresolved issue. The Social Democrats, the Left Party, and the Green Party want to see a preparedness tax on high incomes, but the governing right-wing parties do not agree.
“These amounts are so large that they risk crowding out other urgent needs in the treasury. There is a risk that education, healthcare, and social care will be affected,” said Peter Hultqvist, the opposition party Social democrat’s defense policy spokesperson and forms minister of defence.

Another open question has been whether conscripts could be used in NATO missions and sent abroad even in peacetime. According to the Defense Commission, the topic is complex, and there is no consensus among the parties. According to Hans Wallmark, it needs further analysis.

The Defense Commission’s Proposals
  • Advancing the timing of two brigades, to have three mechanized brigades and one infantry brigade substantially operational by 2030.
  • The formation of a new field unit in the form of a Norrland Infantry Regiment in the war organization.
  • Increase in conscription from today’s 8,000 to 10,000 by 2030 and 12,000 by 2032, with further increases to 14,000 by 2035 to be considered.
  • Enhanced personnel availability to the navy to ensure operational utilization in the fleet.
  • Expanded air defense capability to meet threats from various types of unmanned flying vehicles.
  • Further procurement of supplies, including ammunition such as air-to-air missiles and cruise missiles, and spare parts.
  • New territorial units, organized into about twenty companies and platoons.
  • Ensuring refresher training to meet the demands of the war organization.
  • Strengthening of the voluntary defense organizations.
  • Expansion of officer training.
Proposed Defense budgets
  • 2025: 11.56 billion EUR
  • 2026: 12.16 billion EUR
  • 2027: 13.10 billion EUR
  • 2028: 14.64 billion EUR
  • 2029: 14.98 billion EUR
  • 2030: 15.84 billion EUR
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