Sweden’s role in NATO’s new defense plan
“‘Sweden is not part of the plans now. But when we become members, new demands will be placed on the Swedish Armed Forces. (…) Sweden should provide a brigade for NATO operations outside of Sweden, that is the stated expectation’, says Anna Wieslander, Director of Northern Europe.”
“‘Another expectation of Sweden as a member is political’, says Anna Wieslander. According to her, Sweden is perceived as a solid democracy with a strong economy, a leading Nordic country that has been successful in the UN, one that can both provide solutions within the NATO circle, as well as act as a bridge builder between NATO and the EU. ‘Therefore, we cannot think: We have been non-aligned for so long, now we will just sit and look around. We are expected to perform differently.'”
Further reading
Wed, Apr 26, 2023
A glimpse of Sweden in NATO: Gotland could be a game-changer for Baltic defense
New Atlanticist By
Sweden's largest military exercise in twenty-five years highlights the strategically important island of Gotland in defending NATO allies.
Fri, Jan 6, 2023
How allied Sweden and Finland can secure Northern Europe
Issue Brief By
NATO is approaching its ninth round of enlargement. The accession of Sweden and Finland—two solid democracies and defenders of the international-rules based order—into the Alliance will strengthen the core of the transatlantic community.
Fri, Jul 7, 2023
Will eleventh-hour diplomacy get Sweden into NATO by the Vilnius summit?
New Atlanticist By
At stake in Vilnius is not only the security of Sweden and the Alliance as a whole, but NATO’s open-door credibility.