Sweden unveils plans for expanded role in NATO's collective security efforts

Sweden is taking a significant step in its commitment to NATO by proposing to allocate a substantial portion of its military resources to the alliance.

The Swedish government has presented a proposal to its parliament aimed at deploying a significant portion of its military for NATO operations, signaling Stockholm's commitment to the alliance, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The proposal seeks approval from the Riksdag to prepare a robust Swedish military presence—up to 1,200 troops from ground, special operations, and amphibious units, along with six warships and a fleet of up to 24 fighter jets, representing 25 per cent of the total fighter fleet—to support NATO deterrence efforts in the North Atlantic through the end of 2025.

While these numbers may not seem substantial compared to US standards, this commitment marks a serious escalation from Sweden and is intended to demonstrate to other alliance members that the country is taking its security obligations seriously, alongside those of its allies.

 “This is a historic decision. Sweden has previously declared its commitment to solidarity within the alliance. Now, for the first time as a NATO ally, we are contributing an armed force to its collective defence,” stated Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard at the event announcing the proposal.

It's worth noting that Sweden had already committed a portion of its forces to NATO operations, including plans to send up to 600 troops to Latvia as part of a mission alongside Danish forces under Canadian leadership. However, today’s announcement significantly enhances the scale of resources and personnel being allocated for alliance missions. Under the new plan for the Latvia mission, Sweden aims to increase its troop deployment to up to 1,000 soldiers, comprising “officers and full-time service members, not conscripts,” according to Defense Minister Pål Jonson.

The operational scope for these forces will extend to Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. While Sweden had previously indicated its intent to join NATO’s standing naval forces, announcement marked the first confirmation that it would consider deploying six warships, a significant contribution for the country.

Some of these vessels will focus on mine countermeasures in the Baltic and North Atlantic regions. Additionally, Sweden's participation in the air policing mission could expand to include as many as 24 fighter jets. Swedish forces are set to engage in three operational areas within NATO over the coming year: - Ground and Air Operations in the Arctic: These will take place in the Nordic Cap (Nordkalotten) as part of enhanced Nordic defense cooperation or in collaboration with other allies. 

By Naila Huseynova