NATO | Democratic Socialists

Partnership with NATO is an important part of Swedish security and defense policy. Swedish participation in NATO exercise activities will continue. This shows that Sweden assumes responsibility for security in the immediate area while increasing the capacity of the armed forces and opportunities for cooperation with others. Sweden’s partnership with NATO contributes to increased security in our immediate region, while NATO membership will have the opposite effect.

Military freedom of the Alliance is a foundation in Swedish security policy. It serves us well and contributes to stability and security in Northern Europe. It presupposes a broad and responsible foreign and security policy along with in-depth cooperation on defense and security policy, particularly with Finland, and a credible national defense capacity based on conscription. Sweden is building military capabilities both with individual countries and with NATO, and this is done through agreements and cooperation agreements, not least with our Nordic and Baltic neighbors.

We do not want Sweden to apply for NATO membership. The Alliance’s military freedom gives Sweden the freedom to act in any given situation in a manner that is beneficial to relaxation and peaceful development and ensures Sweden’s independence in foreign policy. It is important that Swedish security policy remains stable, clear and long-term.

Europe and the United States must bear a great global responsibility given the geopolitical situation, and the transatlantic link is key to protecting our common values ​​and interests.

Read more about the Social Democrats’ view of Freedom of the Alliance and our security policy.

facts about NATO

What is NATO?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, is a political organization and a military defense alliance. NATO was formed in 1949 by ten countries from Western Europe plus the United States and Canada. NATO currently has 30 member states that cooperate on common security and defense issues, along with 40 countries in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia, through formal partnerships. NATO actions are based on the so-called strategic concept, which consists of collective defense, international crisis management and security cooperation with partners.

What are the member states of NATO?

Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, USA.

How does Sweden cooperate with NATO?

Sweden’s cooperation with NATO is carried out under the Partnership for Peace (PFF). It was launched in 1994. It is a cooperation program between NATO and interested countries within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The purpose is, among other things, to increase the capacity to participate in efforts to promote peace at the international level. It is fundamental to PFF cooperation that each country decides for itself the areas and manner in which it is prepared to cooperate. ‍

Cooperation between Sweden and NATO has been expanded and deepened since 1994, and Sweden has contributed to NATO’s efforts to manage international crises. Since 2014, Sweden and Finland, among other countries, have established individual partnerships with NATO, the Enhanced Opportunities Program (EOP). The EOP gives each country the opportunity to develop cooperation with NATO in accordance with its will, capacity and needs. Sweden and Finland are engaged in a dialogue with NATO on security in the Baltic Sea region, and this is an important part of Swedish-Finnish defense cooperation.

Cooperation between Sweden and NATO has been expanded and deepened since 1994, and Sweden has contributed to NATO’s efforts to manage international crises. Since 2014, Sweden and Finland, among other countries, have established individual partnerships with NATO, the Enhanced Opportunities Program (EOP). The EOP gives each country the opportunity to develop cooperation with NATO in accordance with its will, capacity and needs. Sweden and Finland are engaged in a dialogue with NATO on security in the Baltic Sea region, and this is an important part of Swedish-Finnish defense cooperation.

In February 2022, Sweden and Finland activated the so-called MSI coordination within NATO for the first time, which provides an opportunity for in-depth information exchange, closer consultations and coordinated activities with the Defense Alliance.