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Just in time for Sweden to be a member of NATO, presidential candidate Donald Trump questions the USA’s willingness to defend alliance members.
It raises concerns within defense cooperation, says L leader Johan Pehrson.
– What the US chooses to do is decisive.
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Sweden is now a member of NATO.
According to the government, Sweden is therefore safer and more secure.
But as early as autumn, the military alliance could be shaken up.
Then the United States goes to presidential elections and the likely candidate of the Republicans, Donald Trump, has made it clear that the United States will not defend NATO members who do not meet the alliance’s goals on how much to spend on defense.
“If they don’t pay, we won’t protect,” Trump said in mid-February.
Trump has also said that he will tell Russia that they “can do whatever they want” with NATO members who do not meet the goal of investing two percent of GDP infocloseGDP GDP, the gross domestic product, is the size of Sweden’s economy by measuring the value of goods and services. Source: SCB on defence.
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full screenDonald Trump. Photo: Charlie Neibergall / AP
“There is a frustration with good reasons”
Sweden is currently reaching the goal. But Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) believes that more countries in Europe need to invest more.
– Defense investments will have to be increased. Two percent of GDP is a floor, not a ceiling, he says.
Pål Jonson says that he understands that the issue is raised in the United States.
– There is, for good reason, a frustration, which has existed overtime in the United States, that Europe has not invested enough in its defense.
Is Sweden safer in NATO too Joe Biden or Donald Trump as president?
– I do not want to review American domestic policy. We will of course work with whichever president is elected in November.
Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch (KD) wants the EU to take greater responsibility. When the US falters, Europe needs to step forward, she believes.
– The EU needs to take greater responsibility for defense issues. The EU must do its homework regardless of the US’s future development, she says.
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full screen Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M), Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch (KD) and Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson (L) at a press conference on Thursday. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT News Agency
L leader: Sweden’s line is that everyone must pay
The Liberals’ party leader, who is also Minister of Labor Markets and Integration, Johan Pehrson now sees ahead of Sweden pushing the line that more people should reach the goal of two percent of GDP within NATO.
– We argue for it all the time. But each country has specific conditions. Not everyone has such an incredibly well-managed economy as Sweden and can switch gears as quickly as we do, he says.
Johan Pehrson says that the government is closely following the discussion about the US’s willingness to defend NATO members.
He confirms that there is concern about developments within NATO.
– What the US chooses to do is decisive and it is clear that there is a concern that the interest in cooperating intensively in NATO could decrease. But it can also apply to other nations that are members of NATO.