Sweden Considers Hosting Nuclear Weapons in Wartime.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson indicated on 13 may 2024 Sverige Radio during an interview his openness to allowing the deployment of nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in the event of war, sparking a debate as Sweden prepares to join NATO. This statement comes as the Swedish parliament is set to vote on a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States in June. This agreement would allow the US access to Swedish military bases and the storage of military equipment and weapons, marking a significant shift for Sweden, which abandoned two centuries of military non-alignment to join NATO in March 2023.
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The B61-12 nuclear bomb was certified on an F-15E in June 2020 (Picture source: US DoD)

The government has argued that there is no need to explicitly ban nuclear weapons in the DCA, citing a broad consensus in Sweden against nuclear arms and a parliamentary decision prohibiting nuclear weapons in peacetime. However, Prime Minister Kristersson emphasized that wartime conditions would be different, stating that decisions regarding nuclear weapons in wartime would depend on the circumstances at the time.

Kristersson reassured that any decision to place nuclear weapons in Sweden would be made by Sweden itself, not by the United States. He highlighted that the main goal of Sweden's NATO membership and its defense policy is to prevent such a situation. He also noted that if Ukraine had been a NATO member, it would not have been attacked by Russia.

The Social Democratic Party, which was in power when Sweden applied for NATO membership in May 2022, had previously committed to expressing unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent military bases on Swedish territory. This stance aligns with the policies of neighboring Nordic countries Denmark and Norway, both NATO members who have refused to allow foreign military bases or nuclear weapons on their soil in peacetime.

The United States maintains nuclear weapons in Europe as part of NATO’s deterrence strategy to protect European allies. Currently, about 150 B61 nuclear bombs are distributed across five countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. These weapons are stored in airbases, and their use requires the joint agreement of the United States and the host country, with stringent security systems in place to prevent unauthorized use.

The potential presence of nuclear weapons on Swedish soil could enhance deterrence against potential attacks, particularly from Russia. This measure would require appropriate infrastructure and reinforced security protocols while raising debates about national sovereignty and the risks of nuclear escalation.

This Swedish announcement echoes the recent statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed a desire to include nuclear weapons in discussions about a European Defense. While Sweden would turn to the United States for this nuclear capability, the push to integrate new means within the European Union partly reflects the increasing tensions in Europe, exacerbated by conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.