Swedish Parliament Votes on Controversial Defense Agreement with the United States
The Swedish Parliament is set to vote on Tuesday regarding a controversial defense agreement with the United States, with opponents expressing concerns that it may pave the way for the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent American bases in Sweden.
The Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) represents a significant shift in Sweden’s defense policy, as the country abandoned two centuries of military non-alignment in March by joining NATO.
The agreement, signed by Stockholm and Washington in December, allows US forces access to 17 Swedish defense bases and the storage of military equipment, weapons, and ammunition within the country.
Critics of the agreement argue that it should explicitly prohibit the presence of nuclear weapons in Sweden. “The agreement does not set any limits,” remarked Daniel Helldén, a co-leader of the Greens party, which, along with the Left Party, opposes the agreement. He expressed concerns that the vague wording of the agreement could potentially enable the government to authorize nuclear weapons even in peacetime.
Sweden’s center-right government led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, supported by the Sweden Democrats (SD, far-right), maintains that the agreement upholds Swedish sovereignty. Defense Minister Pal Jonson affirmed that Sweden, as a sovereign nation, retains the authority to decide which weapons are permitted on its soil.
In order to be adopted, the agreement must be approved by at least three-quarters of voting parliamentarians and by more than half of the 349 elected officials. The vote is scheduled to take place after 17:15 (15:15 GMT).
The Greens and the Left Party, with a combined total of 42 seats, cannot block the agreement on their own. In a column in the Aftonbladet newspaper on Sunday, two Left Party MPs described the agreement as “not only naive but outright senseless” and argued that it compromises Sweden’s security by aligning with US nuclear weapons policy.
The Swedish Society for Peace and Arbitration, a prominent critic, highlighted that unlike the agreements of Norway and Denmark, Sweden’s agreement lacks safeguards against the introduction or stationing of nuclear weapons on Swedish soil. This omission contrasts with Finland’s DCA, which explicitly prohibits nuclear weapons on Finnish territory.
The debate was further intensified when Prime Minister Kristersson suggested in May that nuclear weapons could be positioned in Sweden during wartime. This stance was sharply criticized by Left Party members, who underscored the inconsistency with Sweden’s longstanding position against nuclear weapons.
Concerns remain regarding the enforcement of the agreement and whether Sweden can effectively regulate US activities on its territory that may contradict Swedish laws or interests. Critics emphasize the need for concrete measures and guarantees rather than relying solely on trust when addressing such critical issues.
Defense Minister Jonson defended the DCA by highlighting its potential benefits, asserting that Sweden could receive timely and effective military support from the US in response to deteriorating security situations.
As the Swedish Parliament deliberates on the defense agreement, the outcome of the vote will have profound implications for Sweden’s defense strategy, national security, and geopolitical alignment. The debate surrounding the agreement underscores the complex considerations and challenges in navigating international defense alliances and safeguarding national sovereignty.