Sweden’s defense cooperation in anticipation of NATO – Sitsvenskan

*Nordefco (Nordic defense cooperation): Cooperation between the five Nordic countries. Its aim is to improve the security capabilities of the Nordic countries and develop joint solutions.

*Defense cooperation with Finland: Sweden has a prominent place in defense policy. Among others, cooperation in joint operational planning, exercises, joint units, air and sea surveillance, defense equipment.

Sweden has bilateral defense cooperation with Denmark, Norway, France, Poland, Germany and Great Britain.

*Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF): A framework for a rapid response force led by Great Britain and including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway in addition to Sweden. The JEF can be used in all types of military operations, independently or under the leadership of, for example, the UN, EU or NATO. Member States decide independently whether to participate in military operations.

*US: Five major areas: interoperability, training and exercises, materiel acquisition, research and development, and multilateral efforts. For example, Sweden has purchased the Patriot air defense system from the United States. Comprehensive fitness collaboration.

*EU: According to the common security clause of the European Union, EU countries are obliged to help other member states under attack. The article does not require military assistance and lacks both defense planning and headquarters.

*NATO: Deeper cooperation even before the NATO application was submitted last spring. Since this summer, Sweden has been a so-called “invited” member of NATO. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said it is unthinkable that NATO will not react if Sweden faces military threats at the point of joining.

*Bilateral “security guarantees”: since the NATO application was submitted, Sweden has received from the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France. Insurances are not legally binding and cannot be viewed as guarantees.