The war in Ukraine could be prolonged – and an escalation could mean attacks on Sweden, according to the defense committee.
A new report warns that Russia has an intact ability to attack with aircraft, cruise robots and nuclear weapons.
The defense committee will present a new security policy assessment on Monday. The report has been given the title Allvarstida term said to originate from the readiness years of World War II 1939–1945.
The Defense Committee states that an armed attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out.
“It also cannot be ruled out that military means of force or further threats of such may be used against Sweden,” the report states.
The war in Ukraine could be prolonged
The writings are basically the same as in 2017 when the latest security policy assessment was presented. It was then a tightening compared to the previous formulation that an armed attack against Sweden was “unlikely”.
Since then, Russia has launched a brutal war of invasion in Europe, which leaves its mark on the new analysis.
The defense committee, which consists of politicians from all Riksdag parties, points to the risk that the war will be prolonged and could escalate.
“An escalation could mean attacks on other states,” the politicians write.
This is how we are affected by NATO membership
The defense committee also states that, despite the war in Ukraine, Russia continues to have an intact ability to “carry out operations with air forces, naval forces, long-range weapons or nuclear weapons” against Sweden. Russia also has the ability to operate with special forces.
Sweden’s upcoming membership in NATO also redraws the security policy map and requires new priorities. A main task will be to participate in the collective defense of Northern Europe, and Sweden is expected to be able to function as a so-called staging area for allied ground, sea and air forces, according to the preparation.
The armed forces must be able to be deployed in defense of six of Sweden’s neighboring countries.
“A main task for Sweden within NATO should be to facilitate and effectively participate in the collective defense of Northern Europe, including the defense of Finland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,” the report says.