2015-06-01
Sweden’s Defence Policy
2016 to 2020
The most important priority in the defence bill covering the period from 2016 to 2020 is
to increase the operational warfighting capability of the Armed Forces and to ensure the
collective force of the Swedish Total Defence.
It is vital that Sweden’s defence and security policy rests on a broad political consensus.
To that extent, the Social Democratic Party, the Moderate Party, the Green Party, the
Centre Party and the Christian Democrats have agreed on a bill to parliament on the
Swedish Defence covering the years 2016 to 2020. The guiding principles for this
agreement have been the two reports by the Parliamentary Defence Commission
“Choices in a globalised world” (2013) and the “The Defence of Sweden – a stronger
defence for an uncertain time” (2014).
The five political parties agree that a follow-up on the policies proposed in the defence
bill will be conducted. The Minister for Defence will convene a group consisting of
representatives from the five political parties with the mission to review the
implementation of the defence agreement.
This defence agreement is also based on reports presented by the Swedish Armed
Forces. The agreement also includes a budgetary framework as well as the intent to
launch a long-term review of the procurement plans.
The core of Sweden’s defence and security policy
The Defence Commission conclusions set the objectives for Sweden’s current defenceand security policy. The core objectives are the protection of life and health, ensuring
the functioning of society, protection of our basic values of democracy, the rule of law
and human rights. Sweden's defence and security policy ultimately aims at preserving
Swedish independence and autonomy. Swedish sovereignty, rights, interests and our
fundamental values shall be protected. Our security policy aims at preserving our
freedom of action and defending against political, military or any other kind of pressure.
The protection of Swedish sovereignty and territorial integrity is a prerequisite for
achieving the above mentioned objectives. Swedish security policy is part of the
resources that Swedish society has to face the threats and challenges to our security.
Thus, Sweden’s current defence and security policy covers a large part, but not all, of
the broad perspective of security.
Security is built in solidarity with others. Sweden’s defence- and security -policy aims to
prevent war and the rise of threats to Swedish, Nordic, Baltic and European security.
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