The Nordic countries are preparing against the threat from Russia

The defense committee’s report deals, among other things, with how the military defense of Sweden is to be expanded in the coming years – and there is great interest.

– There are expectations in the defense sector and the Armed Forces that things will now be good. Signals have been perceived that this should be prioritized, says Jakob Gustafsson, security policy analyst at the Total Defense Research Institute, FOI.

He continues:

– The same applies internationally. Our neighboring countries are clearly upgrading. Many are interested in which way Sweden is going now.

Sweden has already increased investments in defence. New soldiers, warships and submarines are on the way, among other things. But most agree that the Armed Forces must grow more. But how much? And with what money? Norway is the latest neighboring country to answer those questions.

The 5th of April stood Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre with a navy blue tie and a serious face inside one of the coast guard’s ships. Big press conference in Oslo, live broadcast, many reporters.

– The government is today presenting a historic boost for the Norwegian defence. We do this at a time of more concern and more seriousness around our country. We are facing a worsening security situation in our part of the world, Gahr Støre said.

Then he presented a giant package to the defense. If the Storting clubs everything, it is about 600 billion extra Norwegian kroner over the next twelve years. This corresponds to approximately SEK 622 billion.

– What is important in the long-term plan is that the government wants to strengthen the entire Norwegian defense, not just parts, says Oliver Berdal, rear admiral and head of Maritime Defence, the Norwegian Navy and Coast Guard.

The largest part of the defense investment still goes to his defense branch, which has important tasks in NATO, for example keeping the sea route open to the United States. Norway’s government wants, among other things, five new frigates, i.e. large warships, and at least five new submarines.

– It means a lot. Norway has a long coast, and we have large areas of sea. We are a maritime nation that is completely dependent on the sea, says Berdal, referring to oil, gas, fishing and trade.

Norway’s fleet is getting old, many ships were built in the 1980s and 1990s, so Oliver Berdal is looking forward to modernisation. The Norwegian navy chief has heard how his Swedish counterpart, Ewa Skoog Haslum, has called for a doubling of the Swedish navy.

– I am not an expert on Swedish conditions, but there is no doubt that I share Ewa Skoog Haslum’s assessment that the Swedish naval defense certainly also needs renewal and strengthening, he says.

Oliver Berdal sees several areas where the Nordic neighbors can cooperate. He highlights Gothenburg as a strategic port for several of the countries. NATO forces must protect it together.

– This is where the most oil and gas comes into Sweden. It is the largest container port in Sweden, and has a direct connection to the E6 and railway. But Gothenburg is also very important for Norway and for Finland, as a supply point in peace and crisis but not least in war. Securing sailing via the Skagerrak to Gothenburg is important.

The security situation in Europe has greatly deteriorated since Russia launched its major attack against Ukraine, and Oliver Berdal believes that the long-term plan that the prime minister gave in Oslo at the beginning of April – that was a strong signal.

– I am not an expert on Sweden, but for Norway, the long-term plan from the government has been very important. It represents a fundamental shift in the political will to invest in defence. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the defense in Norway, Sweden and large parts of Europe has been severely cut. Now it is the first time we see the desire for a larger build-up of the defense again.

For Michael Claesson, lieutenant general and head of the Defense Staff in Sweden, the Norwegian choice of path is interesting. He is familiar with the neighboring country’s defense thinking.

– After all, there is a constant dialogue both at the military and political level, especially with our Nordic neighbours, he says.

The entire Nordic region is a military puzzle that forms what NATO calls the Northern Flank. So what happens in Norway – it affects Sweden.

– There are two countries that draw the same conclusion from the development of security policy. We must strengthen our respective national defense forces. But we must also continue development and cooperation in the context of NATO membership, says Michael Claesson.

In Norway, defense has long had a low priority, according to Jakob Gustafsson, security policy analyst at FOI. So it was on the cards that a bigger venture was in the works.

– But I was surprised that there was this much. It really signals that now it’s serious, he says.

In addition to the navy, the Norwegian government wants to spend a lot of money on the country’s army. The number of brigades, i.e. units with between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers, will increase from one to three.

– This is to be done in twelve years, that is quite a long time. But a tripling of the number of brigades. It’s a big deal, says Jakob Gustafsson.

The army investment is an example on how the Nordic defense is put together. Researchers in Norway believe that one of the new brigades, Brigade Sør, will be important for Sweden and Finland. It can defend Norwegian ports, allowing reinforcements from the US to add, and troops to advance to the allied neighbors to the east.

Michael Claesson, the head of the Defense Staff, thinks that the level of the Norwegian defense investment says something to Sweden.

– SEK 600 billion from the time the decision is made and a long series of investments in all custody branches. In many ways, it will be a very interesting and good parallel to our own defense policy development and what the Defense Committee presents, he says.

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