Sweden Shifts Stances on Nuclear Weapons

(MENAFN) Swedish lawmakers are in the midst of a heated debate over the possibility of developing a domestic nuclear weapons program, even as experts caution that the country lacks the necessary capacity, The Times reports.

Historically, Sweden has adhered to a policy of neutrality and disarmament, famously rejecting nuclear weapons on its soil. However, this stance has begun to change following the country’s formal accession to NATO in 2024, signaling the end of its non-aligned position.

Earlier this year, Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, raised the idea of Stockholm considering nuclear arms in the future. Robert Dalsjo, a researcher at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOA), echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Sweden should engage in discussions about "independent nuclear weapons with a Swedish component." Meanwhile, Alice Teodorescu Mawe, a Christian Democrat Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the governing coalition, has expressed her support for Sweden’s participation in a broader European nuclear strategy.

Despite the ongoing discussions, the Swedish government has yet to confirm any official intention to pursue nuclear weapons. It remains unclear whether Sweden has the technological and industrial infrastructure required to build a nuclear warhead independently or whether it would need external assistance.

Martin Goliath, a nuclear weapons expert at FOA, stated to media that it would be “almost impossible to lay down the resources” for such an initiative.

Sweden previously explored the possibility of developing nuclear weapons during the Cold War, including conducting large non-nuclear test explosions in the 1950s. A 1957 CIA report concluded that Sweden could have produced nuclear arms within five years, but the project was ultimately abandoned due to high costs and strong anti-nuclear sentiment. Opponents of the initiative argued that acquiring nuclear weapons would make Sweden a target.

Now, with its neutrality increasingly in question, Sweden seems to be shedding its historical concerns. The country has committed over $30 billion to military spending through 2030 and plans to nearly double its armed forces to 115,000 personnel by that year, up from 60,000 in 2023. This military buildup aligns with a broader trend among NATO members in Europe, driven by a perceived threat from Russia.

Moscow, however, has consistently denied posing any threat to NATO members, accusing Western officials of fueling fears to justify escalating military expenditures and worsening living conditions across Europe.

MENAFN30092025000045017169ID1110130671