Abstract
In the 1990 report by the Swedish Parliament’s Defense Committee, it was predicted that with the end of the Cold War NATO might be dissolved. At the same time, however, the Social Democratic government recognized the role of the United States in building a new world order in Europe.
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- 1.
Compare: af Malmborg (2000).
- 2.
See: Article 17(2) of the Treaty on European Union: “Questions referred to in this Article shall include humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking.”.
- 3.
More on the subject in: Ojanen (2000, pp. 6–9).
- 4.
Proposals of a merger of the WEU and the EU were being discussed.
- 5.
Compare: Lee-Ohlsson (2009, p. 127).
- 6.
See: Ferreira-Pereira (2006, pp. 99–122).
- 7.
For years, it has been based on the principle of neutrality which given the development of ESDP needed to be revised; for more on the topic, see: Rieker (2004, p. 377).
- 8.
Compare: Statement of Government Policy (2001).
- 9.
See: Jonson (2006, p. 205).
- 10.
See: Presidency Conclusions (1999).
- 11.
See: Council Decision 2000/354/CFSP 2000.
- 12.
See: Williams (2001).
- 13.
Compare: Björkdahl (2008, pp. 146–147).
- 14.
See: Presidency Conclusions (2001).
- 15.
Declaration of Western European Union on the role of Western European Union and its relations with the European Union and with the Atlantic Alliance, [in:] The Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European. Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/pl/treaties/dat/11997D/word/11997D.doc.
- 16.
Earlier there existed a military system established by Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav (Swedish: Karl X Gustav; (1655–1697). The army consisted of two types of regiments: enlisted regiments (Värfrade) and militia-type regiments (Indelty), formed by geographical area, in which soldiers trained for two months a year. In 1812, the parliament passed a bill on national conscription (Beväring) which included all men between 21 and 25 years of age, out of whom only two classes could be used abroad. Within Beväring, the recruits were trained only 15 days a year. Only the bills of 1885 and 1890 lengthened the legibility to 40 years of age and the training period to 90 days.
- 17.
More on the subject in: Adlercreut and Nyström (2010, p. 107).
- 18.
For example, in an effort to identify a method for raising combat readiness, given the defense spending freeze (at USD 4.9 billion), there was an option considered to completely phase out into reserves the tanks Strv 122 Strv 122 (Leopard 2S). The experiences of the war in Georgia led to the idea being abandoned.
- 19.
In practice, after a year only 1/3 of the armed forces would reach combat readiness.
- 20.
It is acknowledged, however, that 4 reserve mechanized battalions were to decrease the time needed to achieve combat readiness.
- 21.
Which between 2015–2020 are to be upgraded to the more advanced E/F standard. This includes, among other things, future in-flight refueling capability. Participation of Swedish Gripen fighter jets in the 2011 “Operation Odyssey Dawn” in Libya in 2011 clearly showed the need for this type of investment. In addition to the fighter planes the Air Force is equipped with helicopters for medical evacuation.
- 22.
The land forces also use Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles Patria AMV armored personnel carriers and Archer 155-mm self-propelled howitzers.
- 23.
Four mechanized battalions are set up in a reserve unit.
- 24.
All data after: http://www.altair.com.pl/news/view?news_id=2614 (retrieved July 14, 2017).
- 25.
For more on the subject, see Part V, Chap. 18.5.
- 26.
See: Enström (2013).
- 27.
In January 2013, the Swedish government decided to purchase 60 new multi-role JAS-39E/F fighter aircraft. The purchase will consume most of the armed forces investment budget in the coming years. There is also a need to replace the fleet of transport aircraft (currently the C-130E), and submarines, to replace/upgrade infantry combat vehicles, and to purchase UAVs and unmanned aircraft. More on the subject in: O’Dwyer (2012).
- 28.
In such a situation, it is not surprising that a question is raised where army forces should be stationed. It should be kept in mind that even though that the Swedish army is to be a fully professional force, 65% will be available upon “mobilization repositories” which requires time and each wrong decision or even a tactical surprise (such as deployment of enemy paratroopers) can paralyze of own operational forces.
- 29.
All data after: Cielma (2013).
- 30.
Host Nation Support (HNS)—NATO Civil and military assistance rendered in peace, crisis, and war by a Host Nation to Allied forces and NATO organizations which are located on or in transit through the Host Nation’s territory. The basis of such assistance is commitments arising from the NATO Alliance or from bilateral or multilateral agreements concluded between the Host Nation, NATO organizations and (the) nation(s) having forces operating on the Host Nation's territory.
- 31.
The potential engagement of Swedish armed forces, a defensive scenario, and a possible plan of Russia’s attack are based in a great majority on conference proceedings on Swedish defense capabilities which took place at the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences on February 14th, 2013 (Swedish: Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademien—KKrVA).
- 32.
“Sweden may be at war within a few years,” stated bluntly the chief of the Swedish army Major General Anders Brännström. The warning appeared in a brochure distributed to military representatives attending an annual Armed Forces conference in Boden and sparked controversy in the country which was directly involved in warfare two centuries ago. The General admitted that he was referring to both the terrorist threat from the Islamic State as well as spreading instability from the Ukraine.
- 33.
For more on the subject, see Part V, Chap. 18.3.
- 34.
All data after: Szwecja zwiększa wydatki wojskowe.
- 35.
The failed attempt at locating a foreign submarine (by implication—a Russian one) which allegedly had violated Swedish territorial waters in 2016 prompted renewed concerns about the lack of similar class helicopters.
- 36.
The lack of political will to join the North Atlantic Treaty raises a number of questions about Sweden’s commitment and capability to take effective countermeasures in the case of aggression against, for example, the Baltic Republics.
- 37.
The Polish Navy though rather weak at the moment, with its 5 submarines, 3 missile corvettes and Coastal Missile Squadron, has a modest ability to protect the central parts of the Baltic Sea south of Gotland but it would still provide make some barrier on the front where Sweden has no military forces.
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Czarny, R.M. (2018). Reform of Swedish Defense Policy. In: Sweden: From Neutrality to International Solidarity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77513-5_12
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