“Not enough money for Sweden’s defence” says armed forces commander
The budget proposed for efforts to strengthen Sweden’s defence would not even cover policy goals set out back in 2009, according to the supreme commander of Sweden’s armed forces, Sverker Göransson.
“The supreme commander believes that additional means are needed in order to meet the goals and that is a pretty dire message,” Committee on Defence chairman Allan Widman of the Liberal Party told Swedish Radio News.
Göransson made the statement at an informal meeting with representatives of the government and the Alliance opposition parties.
A total SEK 5.5 billion have been allocated for the next decade but that is apparently not enough to cover the proposed defence agenda or even to defend Sweden for a week.
“Today, neither parliament nor the government have a clear idea of what the different proposals being put forward would cost… That is problematic considering a new decision about defence spending is scheduled for this coming spring,” Widman said.
However, Jakop Dalunde of the Green Party believes that a defence policy decision will be made in the spring, as planned. “As long as we have a positive and constructive spirit in this working group, we will be able to put forward a proposition,” he said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Will Russia’s actions in Ukraine affect relations in the Arctic Council?, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Yle survey: Majority of Finns support NATO referendum, Yle News
Norway: Norway suspends military cooperation with Russia until end of 2015, Barents Observer
Russia: More marines for Russia’s Northern Fleet, Blog by Mia Bennett
Sweden: Russia playing “psychological warfare” with Sweden says researcher, Radio Sweden
United States: Pentagon: Climate change is national security risk, Barents Observer
