Sweden's security policy
The conditions governing Sweden's security policy have fundamentally changed since the end of the Cold War.
Europe today is characterised by mutual dependence. The security policy opportunities and challenges facing Sweden are largely shared by the rest of Europe. A military conflict in our close vicinity that would affect a single country is inconceivable.
Cooperation within the European Union (EU) has a special position in Swedish foreign and security policy. The connection between our security policy and our European policy is apparent. Sweden's security is strengthened through European integration. The Government believes that it is in Sweden's interests to strengthen the common security of the Member States through close cooperation while enabling the EU, as an effective security policy actor, to work towards peaceful and democratic development in the rest of the world.
Sweden's security is built in solidarity, together with others. Threats to peace and security are countered in partnership and cooperation with other countries and organisations.
Membership of the EU means that Sweden is part of a political alliance, where the Member States do not have defence obligations in relation to each other but take collective responsibility for Europe's security.
Sweden will not take a passive stance if another EU Member State or other Nordic country suffers a disaster or an attack. We expect these countries to act in the same way if Sweden is affected. Sweden should therefore have the capability to provide and receive military support. The objective of military defence is to defend Sweden and promote our security, individually and together with others, within and outside the country.
The article
The article is based on texts from the Government's Statements of Foreign Policy and the Government Bill 2008/09:140 A functional defence - Defence Policy Bill.
Our views on security
Sweden's security policy is based on a broad perception of security.
A single armed military attack targeted directly at Sweden is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Crises and incidents that also involve military force cannot, however, be excluded in our region and similarly in the longer term, the threat of military attack can never be counted out. Challenges and threats to our security are now changeable, borderless and complex. Previous views on security were based on states and a military threat. A broader concept of security also includes non-military threats and non-state actors. Considerable importance is also attached to the rights and security of the individual as well as those of the state.
Cross-border cooperation, trade and integration promotes positive development in large parts of the world. Globalisation can, however, also lead to greater vulnerability through the fact that individual events can rapidly have regional or global repercussions. This implies a greater vulnerability to security threats such as terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, organised crime, pandemics and environmental disasters. Climate change is one of the most serious threats to people's fundamental living conditions. In a globalised world, the risk of an economic crisis leading to security policy consequences increases.
Security in cooperation
Today's threats and challenges are very much transboundary. Security is therefore achieved collectively and through close cooperation with other countries. Sweden is an active and loyal partner in the work for stability and security in Europe and around the world. Sweden's contributions to crisis management operations under EU, UN and NATO command lead to greater security.
The Government is very positive to the fact that the new EU treaty, the Treaty of Lisbon, institutionalises and strengthens the collective responsibility of EU Member States for Europe's security.
There is broad political agreement that the future security of our country is founded on community and cooperation with other countries. This gives us greater opportunities to influence conditions in the world around us and thus also ensure our own security.
Sweden is continually developing and deepening the broad participation that we already have in regional security efforts in the EU, including its international crisis management within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the NATO Partnerships for Peace (PFF). Sweden is also active in the Council of Europe which is tasked with safeguarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law, thus contributing to conflict prevention.
At global level, the primary expression in creating stability and security is our support for the United Nations. The UN member states have given the UN Security Council supreme responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The UN therefore plays a key role and provides unique international legitimacy to the management of conflicts in the world. The UN is also of fundamental importance to the development and protection of international law, including human rights. The Government will continue to work for arms control and disarmament in various forums - primarily those based at the UN. Our commitment to the UN and its work for peace, security and development underpins our foreign and security policy.
A strong transatlantic link is also of vital importance to the stability and security of Sweden and Europe as a whole. NATO is a key actor for European security and integration as well as for international crisis management. Our cooperation with NATO and the USA is an expression of our will to be part of, and to strengthen, the transatlantic security policy community.
Our region
For Sweden, security and cooperation in our region is of particular importance. Nordic cooperation in the security policy area is being deepened and expanded. It is in Sweden's interests to achieve effective joint solutions and deeper cooperation with the Nordic countries. In this connection, the Nordic countries also have well-developed cooperation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Government sees this as a supplement to, and a natural development of, European and Euro-Atlantic cooperation. Nordic defence cooperation is not an independent security policy alternative.
The Baltic Sea region is characterised by stability, dialogue and cooperation. All the Baltic Sea countries, apart from Russia, are now members of the EU and/or NATO. This is a development that has affected Sweden's security positively. Sweden is taking an active part in Baltic Sea, Arctic and Barents cooperation, and is contributing to the EU Northern Dimension. The Eastern Partnership, which aims at deepening and strengthening relations between the EU and its six eastern neighbours (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus) also has a positive impact on security and stability in our common region by contributing to development in a democratic and market economy direction.
Enlargement of the EU is the primary instrument for creating stability, democracy and prosperity in Europe. Sweden will therefore continue to push for progress in the ongoing accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey and promote genuine progress in developing closer ties between the Western Balkans and the EU.
Russia is Sweden's largest neighbour and is a major security policy actor in our region, in Europe and in the world as a whole. Russia's partnership with the EU and its cooperation with NATO, as well as its integration in the global economy, are of major security policy importance to the Baltic Sea region and all of Europe.
