The defense minister “cannot rule out” that Swedish conscripts will be sent to fight far from Swedish territory to protect NATO’s outermost borders.
– According to the law on total defense duty, conscripts can be used for the defense of Sweden, and it is clear that when we become allies, this defense can begin outside of Sweden, says Pål Jonsson (M).
In an interview, a journalist from the public broadcaster P1 asks Jonsson whether those who have done their military service and have been deployed for war should now be prepared “to defend Sweden even at NATO’s external borders”.
– Yes, that cannot be ruled out. Military service is the basis of the armed forces’ personnel supply, the defense minister replies.
The journalist then asks whether it should be voluntary for Swedish conscripts to participate in combat abroad, but the Minister of Defence cannot give a clear answer.
– This is exactly what the defense committee is looking at, and according to the law on total defense duty, conscripts can be used for the defense of Sweden, and it is clear that when we become allies, this defense can begin outside of Sweden.
Conscription abroad
Jonsson believes that it “cannot be ruled out” that Swedish conscripts will be trained in other NATO countries instead of in Sweden.
– Already today, conscripts can train outside Swedish territory.
When asked “when it might be relevant to send Swedish soldiers to fight further away than in our immediate area,” the defense minister answers somewhat vaguely that this could become a reality “in various types of Article 5 situations” – i.e. if another NATO country is attacked.
Military service in Sweden
Swedish citizens may be conscripted if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- completed basic military training
- completed other military training
- completed their service in the Swedish Armed Forces and have completed basic training of more than 60 days or other military training in accordance with the Swedish National Defence Act.
One is placed in a wartime position either in a wartime unit or in the personnel reserve. The wartime position is valid for ten years after the last period of service, but no longer than the year in which the person reaches the age of 47.
At the end of last year, there were 404,218 Swedes in military service.
Source: Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency (Pliktverket)
