Militarism in Sweden

 

Amid economic austerity measures and the costs of the pandemic, Sweden has decided that the Russian threat deserves spending on its defence.

The military budget would be increased between 2021 and 2025, an increase in the military budget of 27.5bn Swedish kronor ($3.10bn) by 2025, a rise of 40% which would fund an expansion of military personnel to about 90,000 from 60,000 people, including a new mechanised brigade with updated artillery.

The navy will get an extra submarine, increasing the number to five, and the corvette fleet will be updated, while the army and air force will get upgraded weapons systems. Sweden is already buying Patriot missiles from the US.In addition, the draft will be expanded to 8,000 a year by 2025, up from 4,000 in 2019. Sweden ended conscription in 2010, but reintroduced compulsory military service for a limited number of men and women in 2017.