29 October 2020
On 3 August, the Russian Naval Forces launched exercise Ocean Shield 2020 in the Baltic Sea. This exercise involved more than 30 ships of various types, naval aircraft, coastal air defence and Marine units. This exercise is taking place annually since 2018, and this is an example of increased Russian military activity in Europe. But, as it was announced by Swedish Armed Forces this intensity of the actions wasn’t seen since the Cold War. On 24 August, the Swedish Armed Forces issued a press release stating that they were stepping up military red lines because of Russian and Western military activity in the Baltic Sea region.
Growing tensions with Russia because of Russian activities in the Baltic Sea region pushed Sweden to make a substantial investment in total defence. Early in October defence minister Peter Hultqvist announced:
“It is the largest increase in defence capability in 70 years. An armed attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out. The move comes because the region’s security policy situation “has deteriorated”. It is a signal to the Swedish people and our neighbourhood that we are taking the security situation extremely seriously”.
The main idea of the project of Total Defence (2021-2025) is to increase the capabilities in both military and civilian defence. This project includes substantial establishment of five regiments and one air wing. The investments will be made in equipment, reinforcements of cyber defence, ammunition and foreign intelligence capabilities, and a doubling of basic-training volumes.
Sweden’s government announced that Sweden is going to increase military spending by almost 40% in the next five years and also double the number of people conscripted into its armed forces. The level of funding to the Armed Forces will have increased by SEK 27.5 billion, compared with 2020. In total for five years, 79 billion will be allocated to military defence during the period. The navy will get an extra submarine, increasing the number to five, and the corvette fleet will be updated, while the army and air force will get upgraded weapons systems. This agreement is accorded between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Libera Party. This decision shows that in comparison to 2014, in 2025 the military defence funding will be increased by 85%.
“The proposals in the bill should be seen against the background of the deteriorating security situation in Sweden’s neighbourhood and in Europe over time. Sweden will be affected if a crisis or an armed conflict arises in our neighbourhood. An armed attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out,” says Mr Hultqvist.
They need to start to strengthen the war organisation. The government proposes that a new and expanded war organisation should be created from 2021. This reinforcement should be taking place at all branches and functions of defence, including cyber defence and foreign intelligence capabilities. They are going to increase the total number of positions in the war organisation from 60.000 to 90.000 (approximately 8000 per year). At the same time to maintain a balance of civil defence will continue to be strengthened, increasing to SEK 4.2 billion in 2025.
Important to remind that the country, which is not a member of NATO, but enjoys close ties with the alliance, plays a huge role in the current security context of heightened concerns about Russian military and non- military activities. NATO is stepping up cooperation with Sweden and Finland, with particular focus on ensuring security in the Baltic Sea region. Additionally, both partners have signed a memorandum of understanding on Host Nation Support which, also following a national decision, allows for logistical support to Allied forces located on their territory during exercises or in a crisis.
Written by Nariné IGITYAN, Junior Trainee Manager at Finabel – European Army Interoperability Centre
Sources
The Guardian, “Sweden to increase military spending by 40% as tension with Russia grows”, Thu 15 Oct. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/15/sweden-to-increase-military-spending-by-40-as-tension-with-russia-grows
Press release from Ministry of Defence of Sweden, Substantial investment in total defence, Published 16 October 2020, https://www.government.se/press-releases/2020/10/substantial-investment-in-total-defence/
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Relation with Sweden, 15 Jun. 2020, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52535.htm
Martin Hurt, Military Tension Increases in the Baltic Sea Region, International Centre for Defence and Security, EESTI, Estonia, September 7, 2020, https://icds.ee/en/military-tension-increases-in-the-baltic-sea-region/
Elena Pavlavska, Sweden to drastically increase military spending amid tensions with Russia, NewEurope, October 16, 2020, https://www.neweurope.eu/article/sweden-to-drastically-increase-military-spending-amid-tensions-with-russia/
