Sweden and a political neutrality shift

[Dalregementet]

The modern world is a very different place from the 13th century. In any partnership Sweden would be a junior partner, and Russia would be more then willing to move closer with Sweden in the defense sphere, in particular as a means for keeping NATO expansion in check, and getting access to additional technologies. However I doubt Sweden would be willing to, not to mention that Sweden is already actively cooperating with the US and using US parts in it's military products. All of that makes the move much less likely.

I do understand that you don´t know Swedish history or understands Swedish mentality - if you did then you would know that elaborating a russian/Swedish partnership is totally meaningless. The mutual dislike between russia and Sweden is very deep rooted even though it is masked behind diplomatic phrases. The same goes for Finland/russia.

 

[Dalregementet]

Does it has anything to do with the Swedish politicians and people finally warming up to the idea of joining NATO with the disappearance of the Soviet Union threat? They stayed neutral to avoid being turned into a desert by the SU, but its irrelevant now as there is no worries from the east.

On the business front, the loss of the Gripen in the Scandinavian markets probably made them see what their position brings to them.

You missunderstand the so called "neutrality policy". Sweden stated before that "Sweden is non aligned, in order to be neutral in war" - I cant translate the Swedish text perfectly, but the statement play with words. The Swedish meaning is that Sweden could be neutral but it doesn't "promise" to be that - it's quite loosely formulated, deliberately of course. The so called "neutrality policy" was only a diplomatic defence line - never to be used in reality. Just like the Finnish/Soviet agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance - the russians tried to activate it during the Cuba crisis with poor results

Sweden did plan preemptive strikes against Soviet Union, especially against Baltic harbours. If the Norwegian defence would have broke down, a Swedish attack against soviet forces could have been an option. Otherwise Sweden would have been surrounded by soviet forces.

The "desert" thing has never been something that really scared Sweden. If SU would have used nuclear against Sweden it had also meant the instant death of all cockroaches in the SU...

Both Sweden and Finland think the time is right to start moving into a Nato membership and this will probably happen some time 2015-2020.

The decline of the russian armed forces will continue - they are not able to add new equipment in the pace that older equipment becomes useless. Russia is very much a source for raw materials, no value add what so ever. As long as that continues, russia will be a relatively poor country with no possibility to reach a critical mass of funds that allows russsia to recreate it´s defence forces, i.e. russia wont be a great power militarily wise. The items russia adds are too few and also inferior in quality.

 

[Feanor]

The decline of the russian armed forces will continue - they are not able to add new equipment in the pace that older equipment becomes useless. Russia is very much a source for raw materials, no value add what so ever. As long as that continues, russia will be a relatively poor country with no possibility to reach a critical mass of funds that allows russsia to recreate it´s defence forces, i.e. russia wont be a great power militarily wise. The items russia adds are too few and also inferior in quality.

The reverse of that decline is a real possibility and is being implemented as we speak. If you want to discuss that aspect of it feel free to do it in another thread. But believe me if the planned funding reaches the armed forces, then we will see a very different Russian army in the next 5-10 years.

 

[Wall83]

Some has sad that the extreme downsizing of the Swedish armed forces in recent years is to make it clear to the people that the only way to defend yourself is by joining NATO.
It is relly scary to see how much the Swedish armed forces has gone downhill in the last ten to fifteen years. In the 1970s and earley 80s the swedish armed forces could mobilized allmost 1 million men, today that figure is down to about 320.000 and it would take a full year to mobilize them. However as soon as the russians made a small military move and attacked Georgia the swedish gouverment stopped all plans to close more regemints.

 

[Dalregementet]

A Nato exercise, "Loyal Arrow", will be held in Sweden, Luleå next year at the F21 air base.

Loyal Arrow
An international air exercise with participants from about 30 countries and about 60 aircraft. The objective is to train the Nato Rapid Response Force. First time the exercise is in Sweden. The exercise is held between the 8th to the 16th of June 2009.