Center for Security Studies

No. 138: The Struggle for Sweden’s Defence Policy

No. 138: The Struggle for Sweden’s Defence Policy

Author(s): Christian Nünlist
Editor(s): Daniel Trachsler
Series: CSS Analyses in Security Policy
Issue: 138
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich
Publication Year: 2013

Sweden is witnessing an intense dispute over the nation’s defence policy. The supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces has warned that they would only be able to defend their country against an aggressor for one week. While the military had strongly realigned itself towards the requirements of foreign deployments, territorial defence is once more becoming an issue due to concerns about Russia’s intentions. Critics doubt whether Sweden would be able to defend itself at all in case of a war. This has given rise to debates over collective defence and mutual assistance - though Sweden still adheres to its status of military non-alignment.

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Graphics:

Enlarged view:
Military Expenditure, 1988-2012
Enlarged view:
Russian Military Exercise Against Sweden, 2013
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