The Supreme Commander has submitted his military advice to the Government on Swedish defense capability with the new conditions that membership of NATO will entail. The Council is a basis for the 2024 Defence Bill.
The Swedish Armed Forces states in its advice that Russia will be the most significant threat for the foreseeable future. Swedish defense policy must therefore take into account the risk that Russia’s war against Ukraine could escalate into an attack against other states.
The armed forces must protect both Swedish and the alliance’s interests and operations, enable the alliance to be able to build up forces and gather forces, and be able to operate within the framework of both stabilizing, defensive and offensive operations.
Swedish NATO membership means that we need to be able to participate in deterrence and defense against armed attack even outside Sweden’s borders. This means higher requirements for more available units with the ability to operate together with allies, says ÖB Micael Bydén.
In ÖB’s council, there are ambitious changes that relate to an increased focus on air defense within all defense branches. Among other things, to be able to be included in NATO’s integrated air and robotic defense. Two of the army’s brigades are prioritized to be able to participate early in NATO’s ground operations. It is also about developing logistics so that Sweden can be an area for basing and transporting allied units. The armed forces also need to improve interoperability in order to be part of NATO’s command system.
Personnel reinforcements will be required to meet the demands for increased operational capability. Among other things, it is proposed that basic education volumes increase to 10,000 individuals per year as early as 2030. The armed forces, on the other hand, advise against the establishment of additional organizational units and operations in specially designated locations.
Taking into account the requirements of NATO membership, the world situation and the effect on the military units of our extensive military support to Ukraine, we are putting a lot of effort into the near-term perspective: To strengthen availability and capability in existing units and to ensure access to material and supplies, says ÖB Micael Bydén .