HS in Sälen | The ministers are now shaking up the Swedes' perception of peacetime

Swedish the core guard of defense and security policy has been retreating to Sälen's tunturi hotel for the last few days to discuss the country's defense and security political identity and vision.

Almost everyone met at Sälen's three-day security conference.

The king was there Kaarle Kustaanprincess Victoria and the prince Daniel's in addition, for example, politicians from all parliamentary parties, high-ranking officers, representatives of the defense industry, trade unions and business life, the police, the court, researchers, people from voluntary defense organizations and representatives of the media.

The planks covered with colorful carpets of the legendary, grandma-scented Högfjällshotell creaked as the executives rushed from the conference hall to the press conferences, reporters on their buttocks.

First The Folk och Försvar (People and Defense) security conference was organized in 1946. In the Cold War period after World War II, Sweden slowly formed its foreign and security political identity, which was served well by military non-alignment until 2022.

Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine has caused a complete reversal in Sweden's defense and security policy, but the idea of ​​peace is still firmly held by citizens – perhaps too much so.

That was the message that rang out loudest at this year's security conference.

In the Swedish media, the hottest topic of the conference was the possibility of war. In their speeches, ministers and army representatives signal that the Swedes' idea of ​​peacetime must be shaken.

“Det kan bli krig i Sverige”, war may come to Sweden, said the minister responsible for civil defense Carl-Oscar Bohlin on the first day of the conference on Sunday.

According to Bohlin, citizens' “awareness” of the possibility of war and their duties during war or crisis should be increased in particular.

Later also commander of the Swedish Defense Forces Micael Bydén repeated the same message. He started his speech at the conference by showing the audience pictures of houses destroyed in the war of aggression in Ukraine and asked the audience if they could imagine what Sweden would look like in the pictures.

in Sweden Total national defense applies to all citizens over the age of 16. In 2022 The Swedish security agency MSB sent a letter to all young people over the age of 16 telling them about their duties during the war.

At last year's conference prime minister Ulf Kristersson said that Sweden is expanding the national defense obligation by reintroducing the so-called civil duty or work obligation (civilplikt), the aim of which is to train people for tasks in times of war or crisis.

Sweden's civil obligation parallels the work obligation mentioned in Finland's National Defense Obligation Act.

Civilplikt partially enters into force January 19, so that it concerns municipal rescue services and electricity distribution. Regarding municipal rescue services, the government's wish is that around 400 people would be trained this year.

Docent of Military Sciences Ilmari Käihkö Picture: Heikki Saukkomaa / Newspaper photo

“Swedish trying to prepare citizens for the fact that war is possible,” says the docent of military sciences at the Swedish National Defense University Ilmari Käihkö.

Two a generation of Swedes has grown up in a world where war is happening somewhere else. Now, according to Käihkö, the ministers and authorities are using louder voices than before, in order to move from the peacetime state of mind to a new era of defense and security political preparedness.

In Sweden, there is talk of a historical change in the world situation. In Finland, this discussion is not conducted in the same way.

“Maybe because we think that everyone already understands this,” says Käihkö.

Also cultural differences play a role.

“The Finnish perspective must always be discussed in Sweden. [Ruotsissa] let's have more democratic discussion and we need to find a consensus on issues”, says Käihkö.

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“In Finland, the attitude is that we already know everything.”

According to Käihkö, there is less discussion about national defense in Finland and it is less analytical than in Sweden.

“In Sweden, we don't just build talent, we also invest in being constantly better.”

According to Käihkö, the country has more security and defense-related research investments than Finland. According to Käihkö, the importance of research is emphasized in rapidly changing times.

“In Finland, the attitude is that we already know everything. So the Swedish model also has strengths, but it is slow,” says Käihkö.

But what should Finns think about the fact that the neighboring country is now talking about war?

According to Käihkö, there is war rhetoric in Russia, Finland and Sweden, but the situation in the countries is different.

“The threat is not so acute in Sweden. Finland has invested more in talent, but as a front-line country, we also need it more than Sweden. The threat is different.”

Compared to Finland, Sweden has more time, but Finland's preparation for interstate war is also at a better level than in Sweden.

“There is the opportunity for discussion, while in Finland we have seen how quickly the NATO decision went through, the protection of the fifth article had to be obtained as quickly as possible.”

in Sweden According to Käihkö, national defense has typically been a topic of special interest, which does not affect everyone, but only actors dedicated to the issue.

This has now changed.

“Now, for example, the media follows and reports in a completely different way compared to, for example, last year,” says Käihkö.

Next according to him, it is important to follow how the discussion is reflected in actions.

According to him, the fact that NATO's recommended two percent of defense spending in relation to gross domestic product is achieved in Sweden by changing the method of calculation speaks harshly of reality.

According to Käihkö, taxes have been added to the expenses, so the amount will increase. According to him, the situation may look better than it actually is.

“Of course, for the government, which has promised to invest in defense, this is a terribly important matter.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer presented Sweden's new strategy against violent extremism and terrorism at the conference. Picture: Magnus Laupa

HS picked up From the discussions at the Sälen security conference, key guidelines emerged.

Support for Ukraine is vital

Support According to the Swedish ministers, Ukraine is first of all vital for the security of Sweden and the rest of Europe. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström named the military, political and financial support of Ukraine as Sweden's most important foreign policy task in the coming years as well.

Billström spoke at the security conference on Sunday. In his speech, he said that Sweden must prepare for a long war that will last as long as Russia blatantly violates the UN Charter and the European Security Order.

“Ukrainian soldiers are also fighting for our security and our values,” Billström said.

NATO membership was already talked about on a practical level

Speech NATO membership was put into practice.

The decision to apply for NATO membership meant a huge change in defense and security policy for Sweden. For two hundred years, military non-alignment served the country well, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed that.

Sweden is still waiting for the ratification of its membership, but the reality of a military ally was already discussed at the conference on a practical level.

According to the Prime Minister, Sweden has a natural place in NATO.

“We connect the Baltic Sea and the Baltic Sea with a transatlantic link. We get a central role in establishing and transporting allied combat forces so that NATO can operate in our part of Europe,” said Kristersson.

In addition, Kristersson said that Sweden will participate with a reduced battalion in the Canadian-led forces in Latvia. According to Dagens Nyheter the Swedish unit will be a battalion of 800 soldiers.

Kristersson only talked about waiting for the ratification of the membership in connection with the fact that Sweden is not going to waste time waiting for the decision, but to strengthen its defense.

Sweden will invest 27 billion kroner in defense spending this year and, according to Kristersson, will thus achieve the two percent of gross domestic product required by NATO.

Efforts are being made to improve the availability of army personnel

Swedish also examines possibilities for increasing the “availability” of army personnel.

Swedish Minister of Defense Paul Jonson told the conference on Sunday that the country's government will conduct a study to increase the availability of personnel for the defense forces and to improve the army's sustainability.

The government has also drawn up a new strategy for the development of military technology.

The threat of terrorism is still considered high

At the conference the diversification of threats to Sweden also emerged.

Head of Swedish Security Service Säpo Charlotte von Essen told the conference that Säpo has decided to keep the threat level of terrorism high. Säpo raised the threat level of terrorism on a five-level scale from three to four in August 2023. The level now remains the same.

In addition, the country's government has drawn up a new strategy with which it aims to prevent terrorism and the activities of violent extremists in advance.