(Stockholm) Sweden is not immune to military attack, according to a Defense Ministry report released on Monday which, in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, underlines the importance of accession of the Scandinavian country to NATO.
Russia is engaged in “a lasting conflict with the whole of the Western world”, affirmed during a press conference Hans Wallmark, deputy of the conservative party of the Moderates who chairs the commission at the origin of the report.
“An armed attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out”, therefore notes the document entitled “Allvarstid” (“Serious times”, in Swedish).
Written by a commission made up of political leaders from all sides and experts, the report argues that Sweden’s security would be “ensured in the best way with NATO”.
In addition to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the document points to China, which is increasing its influence in Asia and around the world.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine, and China’s growing territorial claims show” that the use of force to achieve these claims is “again a reality”, can we read there.
As a result, Swedish security policy is undergoing historic changes, the authors note.
Guidelines for increasing the means of the army have been outlined, said Peter Hultqvist, former Minister of Defense and member of the commission representing the Social Democrats (opposition), during the press conference.
Among them, the need for a “larger army” by 2025-2030, which would translate into at least 10,000 conscriptions compared to between 5,000 and 6,000 today.
Although it has had “guest” status since June 2022, Sweden has yet to see its membership ratified by two of the 31 members of the Atlantic Alliance, Turkey and Hungary.
Only full members enjoy the protection of NATO’s famous Article 5, which means that an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all.