Broad support for defense agreements with the US

Support for the new defense agreement with the USA is broad in the Riksdag.

However, the Left Party warns against handing over the right to the United States to judge American soldiers who commit any crimes in Sweden.

Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) is expected in Washington later today to sign a new agreement on a deepened defense cooperation with the United States.

The agreement gives the US military the right to use parts of certain Swedish military bases. An important aim is for the US to be able to quickly come to Sweden’s aid in the event of a crisis.

– I am happy that this agreement is coming to fruition, because it is needed and deepens Sweden’s relationship with the USA and it creates increased stability in our relationship, says former Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S).

The Sweden Democrats’ defense policy spokesperson Lars Wistedt states that SD has no principled objections to the agreement.

Not controversial?

Hultqvist (S) points out that it was the previous S government that started the process of drawing up an agreement.

TT: Could the agreement be perceived as controversial?

– I really hope not. This is perfectly reasonable and logical, says Hultqvist.

However, the Left Party’s foreign policy spokesperson Håkan Svenneling fears problems on at least one point.

– In this case, it seems that it may be about giving up the possibility of being able to judge all persons who are on Swedish territory according to Swedish law, he says.

The content of the agreement is only made public after the signing, but Norway entered into a similar agreement in 2022. Norway then surrendered its right of first refusal to prosecute US military personnel if someone outside the service commits a crime on Norwegian soil.

– It can certainly be a big problem if there are incidents where Swedish citizens are exposed to crimes, in this case by American soldiers and that you do not get a fair trial but instead it becomes an American military court that decides and sentences, says Svenneling.

Not permanent

In the Norwegian agreement, the US is given access to three air bases and one naval base. US military is entitled to use the facilities and areas for, among other things, visits, exercises, transit, refueling of aircraft, bunkering of ships, deployment and accommodation of personnel and storage of materiel.

– If Sweden now becomes a member of NATO, which most people are in favor of, then it is also reasonable to give access to those countries, says Svenneling.

The Left Party, on the other hand, is against the agreement if it turns out that in practice permanent American bases can arise on Swedish soil.

– I want to see how the agreement is written to be able to determine if there is any such loophole possibility in the Swedish agreement, says Svenneling.

However, the stated idea of ​​the agreement is that the American military should be able to easily come to Sweden to solve certain tasks or participate in exercises.

Svenneling also hopes that the government will see to it that a clause is included in the agreement that nuclear weapons should not be in Sweden.

– At the moment, we only trust the nuclear weapon states not to bring nuclear weapons here or transport nuclear weapons on our territory. If it is fixed in this agreement, it is a welcome step.

The Christian Democrats’ defense policy spokesperson Mikael Oscarsson thinks that the demand for a nuclear weapons exception is a “pseudo-debate”, because according to him it is not relevant to have nuclear weapons in Sweden.

– There is no reason to lock yourself into any writing, he says.

– This agreement is exactly what we need in this security policy situation.

The agreement will be presented for decision in the Riksdag in the form of a bill.

FACT Defense agreement between the USA and Sweden

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