Sweden remains on the threshold of the Atlantic Alliance. Even if its status has not yet been formalized, it could host NATO troops on its soil on a temporary basis.
This was indeed announced by Ulf Kristersson and Pal Jonson, respectively Prime Minister and Defense Minister, in an article published by the daily Dagens Nyheter on 9 June.
“The government has decided that the Swedish Armed Forces could undertake preparations with NATO and NATO member countries to establish future joint operations,” the two politicians said, adding that: “Preparations could include the temporary establishment of foreign equipment and personnel on Swedish soil. The decision sends a clear message to Russia and strengthens Sweden’s defense.”
To justify this decision M.M. Kristersson and Jonson believe that Russia is “prepared to take very significant military and political risks to achieve its geopolitical goals”, while concluding that Moscow “will continue to pose a threat to its neighbors for the foreseeable future”. especially since “it is impossible to say where the limits of President Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions lie.”
Also, in such circumstances, Sweden must be able to quickly host “military forces from other nations as well,” which “requires planning, preparation and practice,” they point out.
And to conclude: “The fact that the armed forces now have the possibility to prepare for this and also the possibility to approve the temporary installation of foreign equipment and personnel in Sweden strengthens our credibility. It also sends a clear message to Russia that our ability to give and receive military aid is important.”
In conclusion, we would say that the statements of the Swedish Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that even now that their country is not a member of NATO, they wish to host Alliance troops on its territory on a temporary basis, in conjunction with statements of support from the Secretary General of NATO and of the US Foreign Ministry for the country’s inclusion within it, predict the positive outcome of the matter and the pressures that Turkey and Hungary will face, to agree to Sweden’s entry as a full member of NATO.
