Sample Article: In Sweden, the Debate over

National Defense Continues

In Sweden, the Debate over National Defense Continues
April 30, 2013 | 1510 GMT

A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighter planePatric Soderstrom/AFP/Getty

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Summary
Recent Russian military shows of force in the Baltic region have aggravated the
ongoing debate in Sweden over its military capability and just how much Stockholm
is willing to pay for it. In an unannounced move made March 29, Russian bombers
performed flybys of the Swedish island of Gotska Sandon.
Since the end of the Cold War, the security environment in Sweden has been
relatively calm. The country no longer faces the threat of Soviet invasion, and thus
Stockholm has not needed to sustain high levels of defense spending. During that
time, economic consideration and other political priorities likewise persuaded
lawmakers to reduce military appropriations.

But as Russia drives on with plans to modernize its own military, Swedish lawmakers
and citizens alike are reconsidering this relatively newfound neglect. Many in the
country are now discussing whether Sweden, a non-NATO member, should increase
military spending and recapitalize much of its aging military equipment.
Analysis
The debate recently rose to prominence since Sweden began hearings to discuss the
future of its military programs. The Armed Forces Command, backed by the
opposition, and some within Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's center-right
government are pushing for $30 billion in additional spending through 2020 for
procurement and infrastructure needs. And a new opinion survey released April 30
showed that 83 percent of those who responded doubted whether Sweden could
defend itself, with only 6 percent expressing confidence in Sweden's defenses.
But Sweden has long been a military power in the region; much of Finland, some of
Norway and Latvia and Estonia were members of the Swedish Empire until the early
18th century. With a strong armaments industry, Sweden is one of only a few
European countries that make their own fighter aircraft. It thus took many by surprise
when in January Swedish Supreme Commander Sverker Goransson said that Sweden
had the military capability to defend itself for only one week were it attacked by an
outside power -- likely an allusion to Russia. Defense Minister Karin Enstrom
responded by citing the unlikelihood of multipronged invasion of Sweden by a foreign
power.
The gradual decline in Sweden's relative military capability has taken place for more
than a decade. Swedish defense spending decreased from 2.5 percent of gross
domestic product in 1998 to 1.2 percent in 2012. In fact, Norway has now supplanted
Sweden as Scandinavia's top military spender. Sweden's political opposition has
eagerly cited that fact and has lobbied to increase military spending by $500 million to
$700 million annually.
The debate in Sweden reflects similar budgetary dilemmas throughout continental
Europe. With austerity spreading across Europe, many EU countries have curtailed
their projected defense spending. With both France and the United Kingdom looking
at significant defense cuts, concerns abound that even limited military operations,
such as those in Libya and Mali, would not be possible in the future. This has led to
increased concern that European countries will continue to rely disproportionally on
the United States through NATO (the United States accounts for 75 percent of NATO
spending).

But Sweden is not a NATO member. Thus Stockholm understands that it would have
few options if it found itself in a full scale war with Russia. This understanding was
reinforced in January, when NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said
the alliance could not guarantee the security of Sweden as long as it remained a nonmember state.
Given Sweden's demonstrated record of neutrality, it is unlikely that Sweden will join
NATO anytime soon. In fact, Sweden has gradually been trending toward more
cooperation with some NATO countries and other Nordic states. However, many in
Sweden believe such cooperation distracts the government from enhancing the
country's territorial defense.
Despite Sweden's relative military decline over the past decade, the country remains a
military industrial powerhouse in the region. Increases in defense spending could
rapidly enhance its military capabilities. With Russia modernizing its military and
with significant domestic political will for increased defense spending, the Swedish
military may find itself with new resources.
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