2025-12-102025/26:UFöU2 · p.2UFöUDefence
Use of nuclear weapons
Swedish participation in NATO exercises involving nuclear weapons
What's at stake: The decision concerns the framework for Sweden's military contribution to NATO, including forces in Latvia, the standing naval forces, and integrated air and missile defence. It concerns the trade-off between strengthening the alliance's collective deterrence and the risk that Sweden - by exercising alongside nuclear-capable units - becomes part of preparations for the use of nuclear weapons and thereby a clearer target in an armed conflict.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should abstain from participating in NATO exercise activities that include elements involving nuclear weapons, or whether Sweden's contribution to NATO's deterrence and defence in the coming year should be accepted without such a limitation.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's bill on Sweden's contribution to NATO's deterrence and defence and agrees that active Swedish participation, within the proposed framework for FLF Latvia, the standing naval forces and integrated air and missile defence among others, is of decisive importance to Sweden's security. The committee considers that the framework should give the government some margin to quickly reinforce contributions or respond to requests to take part in other limited activities, and rejects the motion to exempt nuclear-weapons-related exercise activity.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation (V) essentially supports the bill and wants Sweden to contribute to security in the region, but opposes Swedish units taking part in exercises that may include elements involving nuclear weapons. Its position is that Sweden should never be involved in planning, preparing for, or practising the use of nuclear weapons, since this is a security risk rather than a contribution to peace and stability, and that Sweden - unlike several neighbouring countries at their own NATO accession - should register such a reservation. The reservation also notes that Sweden recently took part, voluntarily and for the first time, in one of NATO's recurring exercises that includes nuclear-weapons elements, making Sweden complicit in preparations for the use of nuclear weapons and a clearer target in a conflict where nuclear weapons are used.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MPMiljöpartiet
Ja 273–19Ja 259–33
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 92/0/0/14 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 13/0/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 61/0/0/11 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:3826 by Hanna Gunnarsson et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3826 av Hanna Gunnarsson m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal on the framework for Sweden's contribution to NATO's deterrence and defense during 2026. The decision means that the government is authorized to deploy Swedish armed forces consisting of ground forces and special forces of up to 1,700 personnel, naval forces of up to 700 personnel, and air and air defense forces of up to 600 personnel until 31 December 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to ensure that Swedish armed forces do not participate in activities that could include nuclear weapons. (V) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme requires a ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil and works for a world free from nuclear weapons, which directly speaks against Swedish military units participating in exercises with nuclear weapons elements.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires a ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil and works for a world free from nuclear weapons, which directly speaks against Swedish military units participating in exercises with nuclear weapons elements. The election manifesto states that Sweden should sign the nuclear weapons convention and be a voice for peace rather than increased militarization. The counter-proposal's requirement for a nuclear weapons reservation thereby aligns with the plan's most explicit commitment in the area.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver ett förbud mot kärnvapen på svensk mark och arbetar för en värld fri från kärnvapen, vilket direkt talar mot att svenska förband deltar i övningar med kärnvapenmoment. Valplattformen slår fast att Sverige ska skriva under kärnvapenkonventionen och vara en röst för fred snarare än ökad militarisering. Motförslagets krav på ett kärnvapenförbehåll ligger därmed i linje med planens mest uttryckliga åtagande på området.
- ban on nuclear weaponsdecisive»Vi vill se ett förbud mot kärnvapen på svensk mark och arbetar för en« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil and work for a”
- sign the nuclear weapons convention»Sverige ska öka biståndet, stärka FN och skriva under kärnvapenkonventionen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should increase aid, strengthen the UN and sign the nuclear weapons convention.”
- against militarization»Vi vänder oss emot militarisering och kapprustning.« (party programme ↗)“We oppose militarization and arms races.”
- opposition to NATO cooperation»Därför är Vänsterpartiet motståndare till Sveriges allt djupare militära samarbete med NATO och EU« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That is why the Left Party opposes Sweden's increasingly close military cooperation with NATO and the EU”
The plan builds on active Swedish participation in NATO as the decisive contribution to the country's security, and on military capacity being strengthened forcefully.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan builds on active Swedish participation in NATO as the decisive contribution to the country's security, and on military capacity being strengthened forcefully. A reservation exempting Swedish forces from the alliance's exercise activities goes beyond the plan's only explicit nuclear weapons limitation, which applies to nuclear weapons on Swedish territory. The disarmament goal is formulated as a long-term and reciprocal effort, not as a reason to limit participation in the alliance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på ett aktivt svenskt deltagande i Nato som det avgörande bidraget till landets säkerhet, och på att den militära förmågan ska stärkas kraftfullt. Ett förbehåll som undantar svenska förband från alliansens övningsverksamhet går utöver planens enda uttryckliga kärnvapenbegränsning, som gäller kärnvapen på svenskt territorium. Nedrustningsmålet formuleras som ett långsiktigt och ömsesidigt arbete, inte som ett skäl att begränsa deltagandet i alliansen.
- active NATO participationdecisive»försvarsalliansen ökar säkerheten för både Sverige, Norden och Nato som helhet.« (party programme ↗)“defense alliance increases security for both Sweden, the Nordic region and NATO as a whole.”
- NATO membership as security choice»Ett svenskt medlemskap i Nato är den bästa vägen för vårt lands säkerhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish membership in NATO is the best way for our country's security”
- nuclear-free territory»Inga kärnvapen på svenskt territorium.« (party programme ↗)“No nuclear weapons on Swedish territory.”
- long-term nuclear disarmament»Vi fördömer allt hot om användning av kärnvapen och fortsätter verka för det enda rimliga slutmålet: en värld fri från kärnvapen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We condemn all threats of nuclear weapons use and continue to work toward the only reasonable end goal: a world free from nuclear weapons.”
The plan states that nuclear weapons should be phased out and prohibited and that Sweden should be a nuclear-weapon-free zone in both peace and war, and the election manifesto wants to legislate on a prohibition of nuclear weapons on Swedish territory and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that nuclear weapons should be phased out and prohibited and that Sweden should be a nuclear-weapon-free zone in both peace and war, and the election manifesto wants to legislate on a prohibition of nuclear weapons on Swedish territory and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Participation in planning, preparation or exercise of nuclear weapon use is incompatible with that. The counter-proposal's demand for a nuclear weapons reservation therefore follows directly from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kärnvapen ska avvecklas och förbjudas och att Sverige ska vara en kärnvapenfri zon i både freds- och krigstid, och valmanifestet vill lagstifta om förbud mot kärnvapen på svensk mark och ratificera kärnvapenförbudskonventionen. Deltagande i planering, förberedelse eller övning i kärnvapenanvändning är oförenligt med det. Motförslagets krav på ett kärnvapenförbehåll följer därför direkt av planen.
- nuclear-weapon-free zonedecisive»avvecklas och förbjudas. Sverige ska vara en kärnvapenfri zon i både freds- och krigstid.« (party programme ↗)“be phased out and prohibited. Sweden should be a nuclear-weapon-free zone in both peace and war.”
- prohibition of nuclear weapons in Sweden»införa en lag som förbjuder kärnvapen på svensk mark« (2022 manifesto ↗)“introduce a law that prohibits nuclear weapons on Swedish territory”
- the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons»ratificera konventionen om kärnvapenförbud« (2022 manifesto ↗)“ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”
- no first use within NATO»Vi anser att Nato bör anta principen om no first use av kärnvapen och att Nato varken ska« (party programme ↗)“We believe that NATO should adopt the principle of no first use of nuclear weapons and that NATO should not”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto binds the party to full NATO membership and rapid, powerful rearmament of defence so that Sweden can defend itself.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto binds the party to full NATO membership and rapid, powerful rearmament of defence so that Sweden can defend itself. A Swedish reservation that excludes participation in the alliance's exercises with nuclear weapon elements would limit precisely the contribution to deterrence and joint defence capability that the plan calls for. The plan contains no reservations against parts of the alliance's activities, so the counter-proposal's demand for a nuclear weapons reservation has no support in the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet binder partiet vid ett fullvärdigt Natomedlemskap och en snabb, kraftfull upprustning av försvaret för att Sverige ska kunna försvaras. Ett svenskt förbehåll som utesluter deltagande i alliansens övningsverksamhet med kärnvapenmoment skulle begränsa just det bidrag till avskräckning och gemensam försvarsförmåga som planen efterfrågar. Planen innehåller inga reservationer mot delar av alliansens verksamhet, varför motförslagets krav på ett kärnvapenförbehåll inte har stöd i dokumenten.
- full NATO membership and rearmamentdecisive»Sverige ska försvaras. Vi vill rusta det militära försvaret snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt. Sverige behöver satsa två procent av BNP på försvaret så snart det är praktiskt möjligt och gå med i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must be defended. We want to rearm the military defence rapidly, powerfully and in the long term. Sweden needs to invest two per cent of GDP in defence as soon as is practically possible and join NATO.”
- complete NATO entry»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party wants to strengthen defence, strengthen Sweden's civil preparedness and complete NATO entry.”
- rapid defence rearmament against external threats»Sverige måste rustas snabbt och fokuserat; ingen ska kunna ta vårt demokratiska samhälle ifrån oss.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must be reamed quickly and with focus; no one should be able to take our democratic society from us.”
- territorial defence»Sverige måste därför kunna försvara sitt eget territorium.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must therefore be able to defend its own territory.”
The plan is based on that security is created in alliances and that Sweden shall participate in NATO together with the USA and European neighbors, with own contributions to the alliance's defense of the nearby region.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is based on that security is created in alliances and that Sweden shall participate in NATO together with the USA and European neighbors, with own contributions to the alliance's defense of the nearby region. A Swedish reservation exempting units from exercise activities with nuclear weapons components implies limited participation in the alliance's deterrence. This works against the plan's commitment to full membership in the organization that is designated as the cornerstone of our defense.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på att trygghet skapas i allianser och att Sverige ska delta i Nato tillsammans med USA och de europeiska grannarna, med egna bidrag till alliansens försvar av närområdet. Ett svenskt förbehåll som undantar förband från övningsverksamhet med kärnvapenmoment innebär ett begränsat deltagande i alliansens avskräckning. Det går emot planens åtagande om fullt medlemskap i den organisation som utpekas som hörnstenen i vårt försvar.
- full NATO membershipdecisive»I dag skapas trygghet i allianser, inte i allianslöshet. Därför ska Sverige gå med i Nato och tillsammans med USA, Kanada och våra europeiska grannar försvara både Sverige och vår del av världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today security is created in alliances, not in non-alignment. Therefore Sweden shall join NATO and together with the USA, Canada and our European neighbors defend both Sweden and our part of the world.”
- Swedish contribution in the nearby region»Sverige ska inom Nato särskilt kunna bidra med den infrastruktur som behövs för att skapa ett nödvändigt och strategiskt djup för försvaret av Finland och Baltikum.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall within NATO particularly be able to contribute with the infrastructure needed to create a necessary and strategic depth for the defense of Finland and the Baltic states.”
- NATO as cornerstone»Nato är den absolut viktigaste samarbetsorganisationen för säkerhet och ömsesidigt försvar i Europa, och är hörnstenen i det transatlantiska samarbetet mellan Europa och USA.« (party programme ↗)“NATO is the absolutely most important cooperation organization for security and mutual defense in Europe, and is the cornerstone of transatlantic cooperation between Europe and the USA.”
- membership strengthens defense capacity»Sveriges medlemskap i Nato stärker vår försvarsförmåga och bidrar också till att fördjupa det nordiska samarbetet.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's NATO membership strengthens our defense capacity and also helps deepen Nordic cooperation.”
The plan states that NATO membership is an integrated and natural part of Swedish security policy and that Sweden's commitments within the alliance strengthen security in our part of the world.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that NATO membership is an integrated and natural part of Swedish security policy and that Sweden's commitments within the alliance strengthen security in our part of the world. It also requires that the armed forces through their positioning can act as a deterrent in the region and that Sweden must be able to meet attacks with, among other things, nuclear weapons. A reservation that excludes participation in exercises involving nuclear weapons limits precisely that contribution and is not supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att medlemskapet i NATO är en integrerad och naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik och att Sveriges åtaganden inom alliansen stärker säkerheten i vår del av världen. Den kräver också att Försvarsmakten genom sin gruppering kan verka krigsavhållande i närområdet och att Sverige ska kunna möta angrepp med bland annat kärnvapen. Ett förbehåll som utesluter deltagande i övningsmoment med kärnvapen begränsar just det bidraget och stöds inte av planen.
- full NATO membershipdecisive»vårt medlemskap är en integrerad och naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“our membership is an integrated and natural part of Swedish security policy.”
- NATO commitments strengthen security»Sveriges åtaganden inom NATO bidrar till att stärka säkerheten i vår del av« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's commitments within NATO contribute to strengthening security in our part of”
- deterrent capability»gruppering att den kan verka krigsavhållande vid säkerhetspolitiska kriser i närområdet.« (party programme ↗)“positioning that it can act as a deterrent during security-policy crises in the region.”
- capability to meet nuclear weapons threat»cyberkrigföring, biologiska vapen, kemiska vapen och kärnvapen.« (party programme ↗)“cyber warfare, biological weapons, chemical weapons and nuclear weapons.”
The plan wants Sweden to be a full NATO member with high ambition level who gets out the most possible effect of membership and prepares the defence for membership.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants Sweden to be a full NATO member with high ambition level who gets out the most possible effect of membership and prepares the defence for membership. A Swedish reservation against participating in exercise activities with nuclear weapon elements would be an exception from precisely that full membership role. The plan's goal of a deterrent defence is also built on deterrence together with others.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att Sverige blir en fullvärdig Natomedlem med hög ambitionsnivå som får ut mesta möjliga effekt av medlemskapet och förbereder försvaret för medlemskapet. Ett svenskt förbehåll mot att delta i övningsverksamhet med kärnvapenmoment skulle vara ett undantag från just den fulla medlemsrollen. Planens mål om ett krigsavhållande försvar bygger dessutom på avskräckning tillsammans med andra.
- full effect from NATO membershipdecisive»Sverige ska som medlem i Nato vara en säkerhetsproducent i vårt närområde och även få ut mesta möjliga effekt av medlemskapet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden as a member of NATO shall be a security producer in our region and also get the most possible effect from membership.”
- full NATO membership»Vi ska vara en fullvärdig medlem i Nato« (party programme ↗)“We shall be a full member in NATO”
- adapt defence to NATO»Förbereda försvaret för svenskt Natomedlemskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prepare the defence for Swedish NATO membership”
- deterrent deterrence»Målet är att det svenska försvaret ska vara krigsavhållande och avskräcka en eventuell motståndare från att angripa Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The goal is that Swedish defence shall be deterrent and deter a possible opponent from attacking Sweden.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan's core defence commitment is a war-deterring defence capability and a re-established total defence adapted to the deteriorating security situation in the neighbouring area.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core defence commitment is a war-deterring defence capability and a re-established total defence adapted to the deteriorating security situation in the neighbouring area. The counter-proposal's requirement for a nuclear weapons reservation and that Swedish forces do not participate in exercise scenarios with nuclear weapons restricts exactly the deterrence capability the plan wants to strengthen. The plan contains no commitment to a nuclear weapons reservation.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande försvarsåtagande är en krigsavhållande försvarsförmåga och ett återupprättat totalförsvar anpassat till det försämrade säkerhetsläget i närområdet. Motförslagets krav på ett kärnvapenförbehåll och att svenska förband inte deltar i övningsmoment med kärnvapen begränsar just den avskräckningsförmåga planen vill stärka. Planen innehåller inget åtagande om kärnvapenförbehåll.
- war-deterring defence capabilitydecisive»Målet är en krigsavhållande försvarsförmåga med kapacitet att möta främmande aggressioner, men som också kan bistå samhället i kris eller oro.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The goal is a war-deterring defence capability with the capacity to meet foreign aggression, but which can also assist society in crisis or unrest.”
- rearmament in new security situation»Rusta Sverige inför en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation i vårt närområde« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Arm Sweden for a new security policy situation in our neighbouring area”
- re-established total defence»Sverigedemokraterna vill återupprätta totalförsvaret och att Sverige ska ha förmåga att möta potentiella angripare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to re-establish total defence and that Sweden should have the capacity to meet potential attackers.”
- defence as ultimate guarantee»Sverigedemokraterna ser det militära försvaret som den yttersta garanten för« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats see military defence as the ultimate guarantee for”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UFöU2)
- Committee report full text (HD01UFöU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3826 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:25 Svenskt bidrag till Natos avskräckning och försvar under 2026 av Hanna Gunnarsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3832 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:25 Svenskt bidrag till Natos avskräckning och försvar under 2026 av Daniel Riazat och Lorena Delgado Varas (båda -)
- Proposition 2025/26:25 — Svenskt bidrag till Natos avskräckning och försvar under 2026
Source: The Swedish Parliament